UK vehicle production rose by 36.3% to 74,031 units in September, the strongest growth since August 2022, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Car production increased by 38.6%, with 70,831 units, making it the strongest September since 2023.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “September’s rebound is welcome, but comparison with last year’s disruption masks the pressures on UK manufacturing. Protectionism is becoming a feature of global trade, and that threatens not just UK automotive as an export-led sector, but the health of industries overseas as well.
“Pragmatic discussions with trade partners are required but Government can immediately help the industry with an urgent conclusion to the ZEV Mandate review. Mandate targets are running ahead of demand and draining resources required for British factories and jobs.
“Substantive changes – not marginal adjustments – are needed to ensure decarbonisation does not come at the cost of reindustrialisation.”
Electrified models accounted for 42.3% (up 22.5%) of cars produced in September and 70.1% of exports.
Exports accounted for 76.7% of overall output.
The EU took a 57.5% share, with volumes up 12.7% year on year (YoY).
Exports to China increased by 357.7% to take a 4.4% share while the US recorded a similarly substantial rise of 234.8% (16.8% share).
Commercial vehicle (CV) exports were up 1.6%, although a -2.6% drop in output for the domestic market left overall production down by -0.9%.
Year-to-date performance remains down by -46.7%.
UK factories built 564,537 cars and CVs in the first nine months, a decline of -3.0% YoY.
The latest independent outlook anticipates full-year output of light vehicles at 731,000 units, down -2.3% on 2025 and below the mid-year view amid ongoing model changeovers.
Output is forecast to recover to 752,000 units in 2027 as new models enter production.
The SMMT highlights the risk to recovery from three threats to competitiveness.
The European Commission’s ‘Made in EU’ proposals exclude UK-built vehicles from their largest market as it stands.
Tougher rules of origin arising under the Trade Cooperation Agreement, the ‘Brexit deal’, from 2027 could impose a shared annual £1.4 billion tariff bill on EV trade in both directions.
Thirdly, manufacturers in the UK are impacted by the pressure from EV sales targets.
