U.K. vehicle production fell sharply for a fifth straight month in May, according to new figures, as headwinds including U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policy hit the automotive industry hard.
Data published Friday by the U.K.‘s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that the U.K.’s new car and commercial vehicle production volumes fell by 32.8% to 49,810 units last month.
It means that, excluding 2020, when factories were shuttered during Covid-19 lockdowns, U.K. vehicle output hit its lowest level since 1949 in May.
Shipments to the European Union and the U.S. — the U.K.’s two largest markets — fell by 22.5% and 55.4%, respectively, last month.
The dramatic slowdown in car production is due in large part to ongoing model changeovers, restructuring and the impact of tariffs, SMMT said.
