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Vehicle production in the UK falls to 73-year low

  • On Jan. 29, 2026, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said total vehicle production dropped 15.5% to 764,715 units, its lowest level since 1952.
  • Amid tariff uncertainty and factory restructuring, a September cyberattack at Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover halted production for six weeks, while Vauxhall's Luton closure and Stellantis consolidation constrained output.
  • Car output fell 8% to 717,371 units, while commercial vehicle volumes plunged 62.3% to 47,344 last year, SMMT data show.
  • With roughly 78% of cars destined for export, exports declined-7.9% to 555,826 units while December 2025 car production rose 17.7% to 53,003 units, ending four months of decline.
  • SMMT expects car production to rise more than 10% to about 790,000 units in 2026, while production of 298,813 BEV/PHEV/HEV units rose 8.3%, Mike Hawes said, "2025 was the toughest year in a generation for UK vehicle manufacturing.
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Charleston Gazette-MailCharleston Gazette-Mail
+19 Reposted by 19 other sources
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SMMT - Tough year for UK automotive output but Industrial Strategy now key to recovery

UK CAR AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURING (data for December and FY 2025)

·Charleston, United States
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The Independent broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
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