UK car manufacturing slumps to lowest level since 1953 barring Covid

New vehicles declined 12% in first six months of this year as Trump's tariffs caused chaos, SMMT figures show

British car and van manufacturing slumped in the first half of the year to its lowest since 1953 outside the Covid pandemic, as Donald Trump's US tariffs caused global industry chaos.

UK vehicle manufacturing declined by 12% to 417,200 units in the first six months of the year, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a lobby group, show.