CV manufacturing down 35% in ninth consecutive month of decline.
UK production of commercial vehicles fell 34.6% in November, bringing declines in both home and overseas demand.
The figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a total of 6,312 vans, trucks, buses and coaches left production lines last month, with domestic demand down, echoing recent declines in UK commercial vehicle registrations.
Demand from overseas markets fell 40.7%, but the proportion of CVs built for export remained high at 67.5%.
Year-to-date production fell 15.7%, with output for UK and overseas markets down 24.4% and 9.2% respectively.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “November marks the ninth month of negative growth for UK CV production in 2017. Whilst fleet purchasing cycles have fluctuated, declining confidence among operators in the CV market is no doubt affecting production. To stimulate demand and safeguard the competitiveness of our industry, we need urgent clarity on transition arrangements and the nature of our long-term future relationship with Europe.”
