UK vehicle production dropped by 14.3% in November 2025, with 65,932 units leaving factories, according to the latest data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The decline was mainly due to lower car output and a significant drop in commercial vehicle (CV) production.
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Car manufacturing saw a decline for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 63,126 units, which is 1.7% lower than in November 2024.
However, this was only 1,090 units fewer than the previous year as operations continued to return to typical levels after a cybersecurity incident at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) affected output earlier in the year.
Commercial vehicle output dropped by 78%, leaving the monthly tally at just 2,806 units – 9,943 fewer than in November last year.
This was the eighth successive month of shrinking van, truck, bus and coach production, mainly attributed to the merger of two plants into a single facility in the Northwest region.
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By GlobalDataThe sector faced changing circumstances in November 2025, with next-generation electric car manufacturing beginning in Sunderland.
At the same time, new proposals from the European Commission introduced additional requirements linking CO2 targets and public funding for green fleets to vehicles manufactured in the EU.
The EU’s automotive package aims to facilitate a shift towards low-carbon transport and reinforce regional industry strength. However, representatives from the UK automotive sector have raised concerns that excluding partners such as the UK could be counterproductive.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said: “Car production is normalising following August’s cyber incident and, with the manufacture of a new EV model starting this week in Sunderland, the sector can look forward with some optimism.
“Growth is expected next year, with the industry poised to reap the benefits of recent UK government backing – notably new funding, modernised trade deals and efforts to reduce energy costs.”
A previous SMMT update reported that UK car manufacturing fell by 23.8% in October 2025 from October 2024 levels.
