UK vehicle manufacturing fell by 14.3% in November, with 65,932 cars and commercial vehicles rolling off production lines, according to the latest data from the SMMT. Car output slipped by a modest 1.7% to 63,126 units as production continued to stabilise following a cyber incident earlier in the year, while commercial vehicle volumes dropped sharply by 78.0% to just 2,806 units, marking an eighth consecutive monthly decline.
Despite the overall fall, production for the UK market rose strongly, up 46.9% to 14,589 cars, while export volumes declined by 10.6%. More than three-quarters of all cars built were destined for overseas markets, led by the EU, US and Asia.
The data landed alongside the restart of next-generation EV production in Sunderland, offering cautious optimism for growth in 2026. However, the sector has raised concerns over proposed EU rules that could restrict incentives to vehicles ‘made in the EU’, potentially increasing costs and complicating investment decisions for UK-based manufacturers.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said the industry can “look forward with some optimism” as new EV models come on stream, but warned that UK competitiveness could be undermined without a “pragmatic and inclusive approach” to EU-UK automotive trade.
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