UK car production rose 3.2% year-on-year to 49,249 units in May 2026, reversing four consecutive monthly declines and marking the first increase this year. The recovery was driven by stronger overseas demand, with car exports rising 3.9% to 38,897 units and accounting for 79% of total output. Among key export markets, the United States recorded the largest increase, surging 83.1% to 7,733 units, supported by the implementation of the US-UK trade agreement, while exports to the EU, the largest market, fell 5.2% to 20,057 units. Exports to China also declined 14.3% to 2,794 units. Domestic demand remained subdued, with UK-bound car production edging up just 0.7% to 10,352 units. Despite May’s improvement, UK car output in the first five months of 2026 remained 4.1% lower than a year earlier, as manufacturers continued to face weak domestic demand, elevated costs, and ongoing trade uncertainties. source: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT)

Car Production in the United Kingdom decreased to 49249 Units in May from 56135 Units in April of 2026. Car Production in the United Kingdom averaged 108856.54 Units from 1977 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 185157.00 Units in March of 2000 and a record low of 197.00 Units in April of 2020. This page provides - United Kingdom Car Production- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United Kingdom Car Production - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Car Production in the United Kingdom decreased to 49249 Units in May from 56135 Units in April of 2026. Car Production in the United Kingdom is expected to be 51243.00 Units by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Car Production is projected to trend around 54014.00 Units in 2027 and 54878.00 Units in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-27 11:01 PM
Car Production YoY
Apr -0.7% -0.8% 13.5%
2026-06-24 11:01 PM
Car Production YoY
May 3.2% -0.7% -0.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 1868.00 2087.00 Companies May 2026
BRC Retail Sales Monitor YoY 3.40 -3.40 percent May 2026
CBI Business Optimism Index -65.00 -19.00 points Jun 2026
Car Production YoY 49249.00 56135.00 Units May 2026
Car Registrations 213166.00 160662.00 Units Jun 2026
Changes in Inventories 1680.00 -1589.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Composite Leading Indicator 100.50 100.69 points May 2026
Corporate Profits 169181.00 165769.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
Corruption Index 70.00 71.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 20.00 20.00 Dec 2025
Crude Oil Rigs 6.00 6.00 Jun 2026
Electricity Price 101.48 98.43 GBP/MWh Jul 2026
Electricity Production 68407.60 66079.40 Gigawatt-hour Mar 2026
CBI Industrial Trends Orders -45.00 -41.00 Net Balance Jun 2026
Industrial Production YoY -0.20 0.00 percent Apr 2026
Industrial Production MoM 0.00 -0.20 percent Apr 2026
GDP 3-Month Avg 0.70 0.60 percent Apr 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 1.00 1.20 percent Apr 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 0.40 1.20 Percent Apr 2026
Mining Production -4.70 -3.90 percent Apr 2026
New Orders 10553.00 11791.00 GBP Million Mar 2026
New Car Sales YoY 11.40 7.10 percent Jun 2026
Business Investment QoQ 0.90 -3.00 percent Mar 2026


United Kingdom Car Production
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
49249.00 56135.00 185157.00 197.00 1977 - 2026 Units Monthly
NSA

News Stream
UK Car Production Rises for 1st Time This Year
UK car production rose 3.2% year-on-year to 49,249 units in May 2026, reversing four consecutive monthly declines and marking the first increase this year. The recovery was driven by stronger overseas demand, with car exports rising 3.9% to 38,897 units and accounting for 79% of total output. Among key export markets, the United States recorded the largest increase, surging 83.1% to 7,733 units, supported by the implementation of the US-UK trade agreement, while exports to the EU, the largest market, fell 5.2% to 20,057 units. Exports to China also declined 14.3% to 2,794 units. Domestic demand remained subdued, with UK-bound car production edging up just 0.7% to 10,352 units. Despite May’s improvement, UK car output in the first five months of 2026 remained 4.1% lower than a year earlier, as manufacturers continued to face weak domestic demand, elevated costs, and ongoing trade uncertainties.
2026-06-24
UK Car Production Falls 0.7% in April
UK car production dropped 0.7% year-on-year to a four-month low of 56,135 units in April 2026, following a 0.8% decline in the previous month, reflecting broader model changeovers amid challenges in several key global markets. Meanwhile, car exports shrank 8.2%, although the EU remained the largest destination, accounting for 53.2% of exports, with shipments to the bloc rising 6.9% to 23,103 units. Exports also grew to the US, rising 6.8% to 7,558 units, but plunged to China, slumping 44.4% to 2,081 units. However, exports continued to drive production, accounting for 76.4% of all vehicle output in the month. A 1.1% rise in cars produced for global markets offset the decline in shipments, resulting in an overall 0.8% increase in outbound trade. Meanwhile, domestic car output for the UK fell 6.4% to 12,700 units. In the first four months of the year, car output dropped 5.4% to 257,024 units.
2026-05-27
UK Car Production Down 0.8% in March
UK car production fell by 0.8% year-on-year to 69,755 units in March 2026, following a 10.7% drop in the previous month, as temporary parts supply disruption at a large plant, weak exports to Asian and US markets, and model changeovers weighed on output. Car exports fell 4.3% to 49,339 units, but overseas shipments still accounted for the bulk of production. The EU remained the largest destination, taking 62.6% or 30,899 units of exports, with volumes to the bloc rising for a fourth consecutive month by 4.8%, partly offsetting sharp declines in production for the US (-24.1%), China (-47.9%) and Japan (-25.3%), which together accounted for 18.6% of all shipments. Meanwhile, domestic demand strengthened, with car output for the UK up 8.7% to 20,416 units. In the first quarter, car output fell 6.7% to 200,889, mainly reflecting last year’s closure of a major UK plant.
2026-04-30