UK CV manufacturing slide continued in October, says SMMT

According to SMMT, output for 2013 to date is down 19.9% to 75,484 units and although bus and truck manufacturing is showing signs of growth, the outlook remains gloomy until the end of the year.

'The downward trend in CV production continued in October, given continually low levels of demand across the EU combined and structural and model changes in the UK,' said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.

'Despite some areas of good news, with UK bus and truck manufacturing growing in the month, the domestic CV manufacturing outlook remains negative for the rest of 2013.'