May 2020 UK Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing

May 2020 UK Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing

26th June 2020

Commercial vehicle production down -61.6% in May as some factories stay closed

  • 810 commercial vehicles built in May, down -61.6% as many plants remain shuttered amid coronavirus lockdown.
  • Year-to-date production down -29.8%, compared with an already low volume May in 2019 amid key model changeovers.1
  • Production for both home and overseas markets falls, down -60.3% and -63.2% respectively.

Thursday 4 June, 2020 

UK commercial vehicle (CV) production was down -61.6% in May, with 810 vehicles leaving factory gates, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Many plants remained closed in the month, while others resumed operations at a reduced capacity. The fall in output follows a particularly weak May 2019, which saw a -69.9% decline due to key model changeovers.

Year-to-date commercial vehicle output fell -29.8% compared with the first five months of 2019. As some production resumed, 43.3% of commercial vehicles built were for export in May, with more than two thirds (68.7%) exported to the EU, following the gradual re-opening of showrooms in some European markets.

A recent SMMT member survey confirms the continued importance of government support measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, with a third (33%) of automotive employees still on furlough. As the CV sector approaches restart, however, there are significant concerns over cash flow and liquidity, with 70% of automotive businesses experiencing challenges in this area. As the furlough scheme tapers to an end in November, the survey reveals that up to one in six jobs are at risk of redundancy.2

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,

With many plants still shut and those open operating at reduced capacity, these figures illustrate the  need for urgent support to drive a successful restart. Measures to drive demand, boost liquidity and facilitate short-time working as production ramps up are essential for light and heavy commercial vehicle makers as well as the struggling bus sector. Restoring operator confidence is key to fleet renewal and thus ambitions for a green recovery.

Notes to editors

  1. CV production in May 2019 – 2,110; CV production in May 2018 – 7,010.
  2. SMMT member survey carried out June 2020.

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  • May 2020

May 2020

TitleDescriptionVersionSizeHitsDate addedDownload
UK CV production May 2020 96.33 KB348 DownloadPreview
UK CV production May 2020 147.15 KB333 DownloadPreview
UK CV manufacturing data for May 2020 443.86 KB310 Download
SMMT Twitter graphic CVs Manufacturing 261.77 KB331 DownloadPreview
CV output rolling year totals May 2012-2020 141.13 KB338 DownloadPreview
CV output rolling year totals May 2012-2020 185.54 KB349 DownloadPreview

Notes to Editors

About SMMT and the UK automotive industry

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is one of the largest and most influential trade associations in the UK. It supports the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad, promoting a united position to government, stakeholders and the media.

The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy accounting for £82 billion turnover and £18.6 billion value added. With some 168,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and 823,000 across the wider automotive industry, it accounts for 13% of total UK export of goods and invests £3.75 billion each year in automotive R&D. More than 30 manufacturers build some 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by 2,400 component providers and some of the world’s most skilled engineers.

More detail on UK automotive available in SMMT’s Motor Industry Facts 2019 publication at  smmt.co.uk/facts20

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