EV numbers rise despite UK car manufacturing downturn

Battery electric and hybrid car manufacturing soars to a record 27.6% production share

August was the second consecutive month of decline for UK car manufacturing with 37,246 units rolling off production lines compared to 51,039 the same time last year. Latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that a global shortage of semiconductors was partly to blame for the -27% fall. However, manufacturing of battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) enjoyed a record high, representing more than a quarter (27.6%) of all cars made. That’s equivalent to 10,274 units in total.

SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, said: “Another significant decline for UK car production is extremely worrying both for the sector and its many thousands of workers nationwide. While not the only factor at play, the impact of the semiconductor shortage on manufacturing cannot be overstated. Carmakers and their suppliers are battling to keep production lines rolling with constraints expected to continue well into 2022 and possibly beyond."

Hawes added: “Job support schemes such as furlough have proven such a lifeline to automotive businesses, yet its cessation today comes at the worst time, with the industry still facing Covid-related stoppages which are damaging the sector and threatening the supply chain. Other countries have extended their support; we need the UK to do likewise.”