Key facts
- UK vehicle production increased 5.7% to 40,872 units in August.
- Car output grew 6.1% to 39,328 units, marking the strongest growth since December 2025.
- Exports to Australia, Japan, and the US saw the largest gains.
- Exports to the EU fell 7.4%, though the bloc remains the largest overseas market.
- Investments exceeding £1 billion ($1.32 billion) have been made by companies like McLaren, Nissan, and Bentley.
- The SMMT considers the EU's proposed "Made in Europe" provisions an "existential threat" due to Britain's exclusion.
Britain's vehicle production saw a rebound in August, with output rising 5.7% to 40,872 units, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This increase was driven by a pickup in domestic car demand and strong export growth to markets including Australia, Japan, and the US. Car output specifically grew 6.1% to 39,328 units, marking the strongest monthly growth since December 2025. Despite this positive trend, exports to the European Union fell by 7.4%, although the bloc still accounts for 54.1% of UK car shipments. Shipments to China also declined by 15%. Investments totaling over £1 billion ($1.32 billion) from manufacturers like McLaren, Nissan, and Bentley underscore the sector's long-term prospects. However, the SMMT expressed significant concerns regarding the EU's proposed "Made in Europe" provisions, which could exclude British-produced vehicles from the EU market, a move the SMMT described as an "existential threat" that would cause mutual damage to both industries.