US exports rise in July after tariff deal
Car production grew for the second month in a row in July but a slump in commercial vehicle manufacturing due to plant restructuring and a bumper month last year meant overall vehicle output fell.
A total of 69,127 cars were made during the month, a rise of 5.6 per cent on the same period in 2024, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed. Commercial vehicle output fell by 81.1 per cent compared with the same month last year, which was the highest figure in 17 years. This brought total production down by 10.8 per cent year on year to 72,006.
Domestic and export markets improved, rising 13.6 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively with overseas markets taking 79.4 per cent of output. The EU was still the main destination for UK car exports at 45.6 per cent, followed by the US at 18.1 per cent.
Exports to the US rose by 6.8 per cent to almost 10,000 units, reversing three months of decline after an agreement with President Trump imposed a reduced 10 per cent tariff on exports of up to 100,000 vehicles a year to America. Any exports beyond that are subject to the original 25 per cent tariff.