New year drop in commercial vehicle output
COMMERCIAL vehicle production fell 14.6 per cent in January due in part to dwindling European demand and new green regulations, industry figures out yesterday showed.
In the month, 6,681 units rolled off production lines, with home and export markets both seeing falls, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
“New Euro-6 engine emission legislation came into effect from January this year, a change which invariably results in a lull in UK heavy commercial vehicle manufacturing,” said SMMT boss Mike Hawes.
The commercial vehicle market has been in decline for around three years. This contrasts sharply with a resurgence in British car makers; despite output dipping 0.3 per cent last month, car manufacturers almost matched the post-recession record output rate seen last year.
Engine production for commercial vehicles was also down in the month, falling 6.1 per cent on a year ago to 219,757, the SMMT said. However, export volumes were slightly up on 2013, and the industry group said output should accelerate once UK makers such as Nissan bring new models onto the production lines later this year.