UK Car Output Rises Sharply in September

2026-10-29 00:13 By Joshua Ferrer 1 min. read

Car production in the UK surged by 38.6% year-on-year to 70,831 units in September 2026, marking the strongest September output since 2023 and accelerating from a 6.1% rise in August, as manufacturers recover from a cyberattack-hit comparison a year earlier.

Total vehicle production rose 36.3% to 74,031 units, the strongest growth since August 2022.

The EU remained the largest export destination, accounting for 57.5% of car shipments, with exports up 12.7%, while shipments to the US jumped 234.8% and those to China soared 357.7%, albeit from a low base.

However, total car and commercial vehicle production fell 3% year-on-year to 564,537 units in the first nine months.

The SMMT warned that the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” rules and tougher post-Brexit rules of origin could threaten the sector, while UK’s electric-vehicle sales mandate is adding pressure on manufacturers.

UK light vehicle production is forecast to fall 2.3% to 731,000 units in 2026 before recovering to 752,000 in 2027.



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UK Car Output Rises Sharply in September
Car production in the UK surged by 38.6% year-on-year to 70,831 units in September 2026, marking the strongest September output since 2023 and accelerating from a 6.1% rise in August, as manufacturers recover from a cyberattack-hit comparison a year earlier. Total vehicle production rose 36.3% to 74,031 units, the strongest growth since August 2022. The EU remained the largest export destination, accounting for 57.5% of car shipments, with exports up 12.7%, while shipments to the US jumped 234.8% and those to China soared 357.7%, albeit from a low base. However, total car and commercial vehicle production fell 3% year-on-year to 564,537 units in the first nine months. The SMMT warned that the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” rules and tougher post-Brexit rules of origin could threaten the sector, while UK’s electric-vehicle sales mandate is adding pressure on manufacturers. UK light vehicle production is forecast to fall 2.3% to 731,000 units in 2026 before recovering to 752,000 in 2027.
2026-10-29
UK Car Production Rebounds in August
Car production in the United Kingdom climbed by 6.1% year-on-year to 39,328 units in August 2026, marking the strongest growth since December 2025 and rebounding from a 10.6% fall in July. Total vehicle production rose 5.7% to 40,872 units, as domestic demand picked up, while August is typically a low-output and volatile month due to scheduled plant shutdowns. Car exports to Australia, Japan and the US recorded the biggest gains among the top 10 markets, but shipments to the European Union fell 7.4% and those to China dropped 15%. The EU remained the UK’s largest overseas market, accounting for 54.1% of car exports. The SMMT said investments of more than £1 billion from McLaren, Nissan and Bentley support the sector’s long-term prospects. However, it warned that the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” provisions pose an existential threat to UK production, given the deep integration between British and EU auto industries.
2026-09-29
UK Car Production Falls 10.6% in July
UK car production fell 10.6% year-on-year to 61,767 units in July 2026, following a 1.3% decline in June, driven by weaker export demand and earlier scheduling of routine summer maintenance shutdowns. Car exports declined 16%, with shipments to the European Union falling 15%, while exports to the United States, Turkey, China and Japan dropped 18%, 19%, 37% and 24%, respectively. The decline in overseas demand more than offset a rise in vehicles produced for the domestic market. Commercial vehicle production also fell sharply, dropping 34% to 1,888 units. Meanwhile, production of fully electric and hybrid models increased 6.8% to 25,678 units, marking the first monthly increase of the year and accounting for more than four in 10 cars built. The SMMT said UK factories have produced just under 450,000 cars and commercial vehicles so far this year, while annual output could reach 1 million units by the end of the decade if manufacturers secure fresh investment and improve competitiveness.
2026-08-26