Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric cars played a key role in April as the UK’s motor industry continued its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Production of HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs – ‘electrified’ cars – rose by 56.2% to more than 25,000 units, according to new data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
That meant electrified models accounted for more than one in three of the 66,527 cars that left factories across the UK last month.
This volume is a 9.9% increase on that recorded in April 2022 – thanks in part to the easing of global parts shortages. The return of semiconductor supply played an especially important role, the SMMT said.
Most of the cars produced were for export: 54,820 were shipped abroad, while 11,707 remained in the UK. European Union markets accounted for the most demand, taking 32,002 cars – 58.4% of the export total. The EU was followed by the US, China, and Australia.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “UK car production is starting to motor again – good news for the sector and the many thousands of jobs and livelihoods it sustains. These figures also show how exports, particularly to Europe, continue to be the foundation of British automotive manufacturing so we must do all we can to safeguard the competitiveness of these trading relationships.”
Hawes also called for an urgent solution to the issue of rules of origin, a piece of legislation concerning local battery content and electric car sales in the EU. From 2024, the rules of origin become stricter, forcing 45% of the value of an EV produced to come from the EU or the UK to qualify for trade without tariffs.
Stellantis, Ford and JLR have all flagged concerns about the rules. Stellantis warned it could be forced to close its Luton and Ellesmere Port factories; Ford said the rules would add “pointless cost” to EVs; and JLR called the legislation “unrealistic and counterproductive”.
Add your comment