Vehicle Production in UK Fell to 70 Year Low in April

The number of vehicles manufactured in the UK fell sharply last month, as US tariffs and the timing of Easter hit production.

The 59,203 vehicles made was the lowest April output for more than 70 years, with the exception of 2020, when production effectively stopped during the Covid lockdown.

The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders said a wider change in the industry as it shifts from petrol cars to electric vehicles had also temporarily reduced output.

However, new trade deals with the US, EU and India may help boost upcoming production, the industry group said.

The April figure was 16 per cent lower than the same month last year, and a quarter lower than March, when numbers were likely to have been boosted by manufacturers shipping more cars to the US before President Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on steel, aluminium, and cars kicked in.

On Wednesday, a US court blocked many of Trump’s tariffs, but the ruling does not apply to the tariff on steel, aluminium, and cars.

British car maker Jaguar Land Rover is paying 27.5 per cent tariffs on everything it ships to the US, which it said is costing it a huge amount of money.

The firm sends cars from its UK business to its US business – meaning it pays both export and import taxes on any cars it sends across the Atlantic.