UK commercial vehicle (CV) production output fell in September, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 7,208 vans, trucks, buses and coaches were built in the UK last month, a 26% year-on-year decline.
Domestic demand fell 32.6% in the month, with 2,710 CVs produced for the home market, while demand from the overseas markets declined -21.4%.
Year-to-date production also saw a decline, with output down 11.7% to 61,233 units. However, production for export remained stable, up 3.6% in 2017 with 38,022 units shipped abroad this year.
‘Domestic demand for commercial vehicles has taken a hit in recent months and this is being mirrored in UK production figures,’ said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. ‘While fluctuating fleet orders are a natural feature of the market, the decline in business confidence, caused by economic and political uncertainty, has resulted in further disruption to manufacturing output.’
This story is reprinted from material from the SMMT, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
