Car and van production in the UK just dropped to its lowest level since 1952. Yes, seriously.
New stats from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show UK car production was down 8.6% in April, and van/commercial vehicle production dropped a massive 68.6%. In total, just 59,203 vehicles were built last month—a 15.8% decline.
Aside from April 2020 when factories were shut due to Covid, this is the worst April for UK vehicle manufacturing since the early '50s—when Queen Elizabeth II had just taken the throne and the Morris Minor was the car to beat.
What’s behind the drop? A mix of Easter holidays, model updates, and temporary plant closures. But even with those factored in, the industry is seriously struggling—and it’s not just a blip.
The first four months of 2025 have been the slowest start to a year for UK car production since the 2009 financial crisis.
Exports took a hit too:
- Car exports dropped 10.1%
- Van/commercial exports crashed by 75.8%
- Exports to the EU and US (our biggest markets) were both down
- Only China and Turkey showed growth—up 44% and 31.2%, respectively
Mike Hawes, boss of the SMMT, says “With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness.
“Government has recognised automotive manufacturing’s critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month.
“To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.”
