UK Car Production Rises 17.7% in December

UK car production rose 17.7% year-on-year to 53,003 units in December 2025, ending a four-month decline after a cyber incident disrupted output earlier in the year. However, total vehicle production fell 15.5% in 2025 to 764,715 units, weighed down by the cyber disruption, new transatlantic trade tariffs, plant consolidation in the commercial vehicle segment, and ongoing restructuring as the industry shifts toward decarbonization. Over the year, production for the UK market declined 8.2% to 161,545 units, while exports fell 7.9% to 555,826 units, accounting for 77.5% of output. Europe remained the main export destination (56.7%), followed by the US (15.0%) and China (6.3%). Production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles rose 8.3% to 298,813 units, lifting electrified models to a record 41.7% share of total output.

UK car production fell 14.3% year-on-year in November 2025 to 65,932 units, marking a fourth consecutive monthly decline, although output has been gradually normalizing following a cyber incident at the country’s largest carmaker. The downturn reflected a modest 1.7% fall in passenger car output to 63,126 units, alongside a much sharper 78% slump in commercial vehicle production, with just 2,806 units manufactured, down 9,943 units from a year earlier. Production for the UK market rose 46.9% to 14,589 units, while output for export dropped 10.6% to 48,537, as shipments to the five largest export destinations the EU, US, Türkiye, China and Japan all declined. The data capped a mixed week for the sector, with the launch of next generation, high volume electric vehicle production in Sunderland offset by concerns over the European Commission’s plans to link additional flexibility on CO2 targets and public subsidies for fleet electrification to cars and vans made in the EU.

UK car production fell 23.8% year-on-year in October 2025 to 59,010 units, the lowest October output since 1952, following a crippling cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover. JLR, the country’s largest carmaker, was targeted by hackers at the end of August, forcing a five-week factory shutdown. Owned by India’s Tata Motors, the company only resumed production in early October, having produced no vehicles in September. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said the crisis reverberated across the industry and warned that the government’s new electric vehicle excise duty could further undermine demand. SMMT data showed that almost half of October’s output consisted of electrified vehicles – battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid models. Production for the UK market fell 10.6% to 13,785 units, while exports dropped 27.1% to 45,225 units.