Commercial vehicle production in the UK grew 11.3% in 2021, with 73,600 vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches leaving factory lines.
CV production remained resilient despite the global semiconductor shortage, driven by an increase in sales of rigid two-axle trucks and vans as demand for home deliveries soared during lockdowns.
However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that the positive news must be viewed in the context of a Covid-ravaged 2020, which saw social distancing measures and lockdowns throughout the year bring manufacturing output down to the worst year on record.
The 2021 performance, although an improvement on 2020, was still down by 14.4%, or some 12,356 units, on the five-year pre pandemic average.
Output for the home market was up 27.3%, while output for overseas markets broadly stable, down 0.6%. Despite this, more than half (51.2%) of all output was exported, with the bulk heading to EU markets (93.2% export share).
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “After the worst year in a lifetime, the growth in production for commercial vehicles during 2021 is extremely welcome. Despite a plethora of challenges, manufacturers have remained operational throughout the year. The sector isn’t out of the woods yet, however, and challenges remain heading into 2022. Support will be necessary to ensure the supply chain can overcome ongoing semiconductor-related shortages as well as measures to ensure energy costs do not rise to an extent that it significantly undermines competitiveness.”
