UK CV manufacturing sees best July in 16 years as supply chain challenges ease, SMMT reveals

The increase resulted in the best July performance in 16 years and a 201.8% increase on pre-pandemic July 2019 volumes. 

SMMT said growth in the month was driven by easing supply chain challenges and ongoing demand from overseas markets – which grew 76.8% to 9,534 units.

Exports accounted for 62.5% of all vehicles produced in the month, with the EU taking the lion’s share and nearly all exports (99.1%).

The domestic market also recorded double-digit growth, rising by 63.7% to 5,718 units.

The sector’s first monthly uptick since February sees year-to-date commercial vehicle production up by 7.3% on the same period in 2023 to 72,761 units – a healthy gain of 4,971 units and an 81.31% increase on pre-pandemic 2019.2 

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “An end to recent supply chain disruption signals a return to growth for the UK’s commercial vehicle sector, and significant growth at that.

“Sustaining strong global demand for British-built vans, trucks and buses, which are increasingly zero emission, now depends on maintaining favourable trading conditions, creating healthy markets at home and boosting UK competitiveness on the global stage.”