UK vehicle output rises for first time this year as US shipments jump over 80%
UK vehicle production rose 2.7% in May, the first monthly rise this year, though against a weak May 2025 and with output still down year to date.
UK vehicle output edged up in May, the first monthly rise this year, and the trade context explains why fleet buyers should care beyond the headline. Output rose against a weak May 2025, when US tariff uncertainty pushed exports down, and cross-Atlantic shipments were up more than 80% year-on-year in May, with the UK-US trade deal in force since June 2025. The EU still takes more than half of UK car exports, and shipments there fell 5.2% in May, so US growth alone is a partial lift, not a full recovery. Worth watching whether the uptick holds. (SMMT)
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