Slump in U.K. Export Build Continues in April

U.K. car production passes 500,000 units in the first four months of the year despite a drop in export orders.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data shows the April build fell 3.8% to 128,312 units for a 4-month total down 1.4% at 530,505.

Production for the home market climbed 11.1% to 29,930 units, raising the year-to-date total 19.4% to 135,445.

These gains were more than offset by the weak export market. Export orders fell 7.6% in April to 98,382 units, leaving the 4-month total down 7.0% at 395,060.

The SMMT says, however, the U.K. auto industry’s outlook is more than promising as it gears for a wave of new models generated by billions of pounds worth of recent investment.

Among the global manufacturers investing in U.K. production are Bentley, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Mini. All have new products due to roll off production lines in coming months.

“Manufacturers across the country are poised to see yet more growth following multi-billion-pound investments,” SMMT CEO Mike Hawes says in a statement. “And, providing global markets perform well, output is on track to reach record levels in the next few years.”

Meantime, the smaller U.K. commercial-vehicle manufacturing sector saw April production jump 36.8% in April to 8,629 units.

CV output for the domestic market rose 21.5% to 3,563 units during the month for a year-to-date build up 32.1% at 16,604.

Production for export spiked 50.1% for the month to 5,066 units for a 4-month total up 15.6% at 15,460.

Hawes says after a restructuring in the market, CV productivity has returned to form, driven by rising demand from operators in the U.K. and, increasingly, across Europe.

“These figures are further evidence that commercial-vehicle manufacturing in the U.K. has turned a corner after a period of restructuring,” Hawes says. “April’s significant rise in exports is particularly encouraging, as the industry capitalizes on increasing demand for vans, trucks and buses across Europe.”