Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

Volkswagen dominated as UK new car sales reached 1.9 million in 2023

Full year 2023 new car sales data shows Volkswagen dominated the UK’s new car market in 2023, ending the year with 162,087 registrations and market share of 8.52%, almost a whole percentage point ahead of nearest rival Ford’s 7.57%.

new car market 5 Jan

SMMT urges political support to boost UK EV production

The SMMT has called on every political party to sign up to key pledges that would see a 10-fold increase to UK EV production to 750,000 units a year by 2030.

Manufacturer insight 27 Jun

Used EVs post fastest growth as market recovers in Q1, says SMMT

The UK’s used car market rallied with 4.1% growth in Q1 and EVs were the fastest growing sector, up by 56.5%, according to the latest data from the SMMT.

EV and hybrids 10 May

Range Rover production in JLR's Solihull manufacturing facility

UK car production remained over 40% down on pre-COVID 2019 in Q1

The UK’s car manufacturing sector remained “well below pre-pandemic levels” during Q1 2023, despite a 6% increase in production volumes over the three-month period.

28 Apr

Wessex Garages new Nissan Gloucester showroom corporate identity (CI)

Large fleets drove March’s 18.2% new car registrations growth

New car registrations ended Q1 2023 on a high after demand from large fleets drove year-on-year volume growth of 18.2%.

Market insight 5 Apr

Car production growth shows UK automotive is ‘road to recovery’, says SMMT

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes has said the UK’s car manufacturing sector is “on the road to recovery” following a 13.1% growth in production volumes in February.

Market insight 30 Mar

Bentley's plans for its EV production facility

SMMT outlines blueprint for UK to become an EV manufacturing leader

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has laid out its blueprint for the UK to become one of the world’s most competitive locations for advanced automotive manufacturing in the electric vehicle (EV) age.

Market insight 13 Mar

Europe's best-selling car in January 2023, the Dacia Sandero

VW Group, Nissan and Dacia among February's car registrations winners

Volkswagen Group, Nissan and Dacia were among the new car market’s triple digit percentage growth winners as car manufacturers celebrated a seventh month of UK automotive sector growth in February.

Market insight 6 Mar

February’s 26.2% registrations growth shows ‘taps are reopening’ on new car supply

The UK’s new car market experienced a 26.2% year-on-year rise in registrations to register a seventh consecutive month of growth, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported.

Market insight 6 Mar

‘Unattractive’ UK car manufacturing sector looks to Spring Budget for support

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes has admitted that the UK car manufacturing sector needs a new "pitch” to remain competitive with global rivals.

Market insight 24 Feb

Supply ‘squeeze’ blamed for 8.5% used car sales decline in 2022

The automotive sector’s new car supply “squeeze” has been blamed for an 8.5% decline in used car sales during 2022 – with margins remaining strong as retailers struggled to source stock.

Market insight 10 Feb

SMMT predicts 2023 van registrations growth after 26% January increase

Van registrations are predicted to grow by 13.9% in 2023 after starting the new year with their first month of growth since the September numberplate change.

Market insight 7 Feb

MG HS is UK’s best-seller but VW tops January sales charts

MG’s flagship HS SUV was the UK’s best-selling car in the first month of 2023 but Volkswagen registrations exceeded closest rival Ford by 36% to start the year as the biggest selling brand.

Market insight 6 Feb

New car market still ‘fragile’ despite 14.7% January growth, says SMMT

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes has said the economic outlook, cost-of-living crisis and anxiety over new technology mean the new car market remains ‘fragile’, despite 14.7% January growth.

Market insight 6 Feb

Bentley Continental GT production line in Crewe

UK’s car manufacturing prospects ‘precarious’ after 2022’s 9.8% decline

The prospects of UK car manufacturing sector’s future has been labelled “precarious” as pressure mounts to accelerate investment in zero-emissions electric vehicle (EV) production following 2022’s 9.8% sector decline.

Market insight 26 Jan

Volkswagen’s bumper December makes it UK’s best-selling car brand in 2022

Volkswagen retained its position as the UK’s best-selling new car brand after bumper December registrations accelerated its performance ahead of US rival Ford.

Market insight 5 Jan

Nissan celebrated the Qashqai's best-selling car 2022 status with a gold wrap

British-built Nissan Qashqai tops UK's best-selling car rankings for 2022

Nissan’s Qashqai SUV has become the first British-built vehicle to top the UK’s annual best-selling car rankings for 24 years.

Manufacturer insight 5 Jan

UK automotive ‘adrift of pre-pandemic performance’ after 2% 2022 registrations dip

The UK automotive sector remains “adrift of its pre-pandemic performance” after an acceleration in December new car registrations failed to arrest a full-year decline – ending 2022 down 2% at 1.61 million units.

Market insight 5 Jan

Do the UK's new car registrations suggest we have finally reached 'peak premium'?

In the latest edition of AM Magazine David Francis takes deep-dive into the UK's new car registrations and asks: "Has the market finally reached 'peak premium?'"

new car registrations 6 Dec