Car production accounted for the bulk of the growth, climbing 3.2% to 49,249 vehicles. Shipments to the United States spiked by 83% to 7,733 units, a shift attributed to the trade deal implemented in June 2025. Conversely, demand from other major regions softened, with exports to the European Union dipping 5.2% to 20,057 units, while shipments to China fell 14% to 2,794 vehicles. Commercial vehicle manufacturing bucked the trend, sliding 7.6% to 1,929 units.
In section Market Quotes
UK Vehicle Production Edges Higher on US Export Surge
A surge in American demand for British-made cars drove a 2.7% rise in U.K. vehicle manufacturing last May, as production lines output 51,178 units. This modest recovery marks a rebound from the previous year’s slump, which was hampered by heightened tariff uncertainty across the Atlantic.
Despite the uptick, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders cautioned that the industry faces significant headwinds. Chief Executive Mike Hawes pointed to the tension between massive investments in zero-emission technology and the reality of weak underlying consumer demand. To secure a long-term recovery, the industry is calling for lower industrial costs and a flexible approach to the government's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, arguing that current compliance burdens threaten both jobs and future investment.
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