British Vehicle Production Plummets by 35.9% in September Amid Cyberattack

Last month saw a dramatic decline in British vehicle production, with a staggering 54,319 cars, vans, and lorries manufactured, a 35.9% drop year-on-year. The deterioration was largely attributed to the five-week production shutdown at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK's largest automotive employer, which was brought to a standstill by a devastating cyberattack. This highly anticipated and impactful event has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMTT) warning that the sector remains under immense pressure.

Key Takeaways:

• British vehicle production plummeted by 35.9% in September, with 54,319 vehicles manufactured, compared to 84,642 in the same month last year.
• The decline was largely due to the five-week production shutdown at JLR, the UK's largest automotive employer, which was caused by a cyberattack.
• Car production fell 27.1% to 51,090 units, with 47.8% of these being electric or hybrid vehicles.
• Commercial vehicle output dropped sharply for the sixth month in a row, by 77.9% to 3,229 units.
• So far this year, British car and van factories have produced 582,250 vehicles, representing a 15.2% drop on the equivalent period of 2024.
• JLR is estimated to have lost around £2 billion due to the cyberattack, with costs potentially rising further depending on how long it takes to return to normal levels.
• The SMTT is calling on the government not to scrap employee car ownership schemes (Ecos), which it argues would cause "severe and lasting damage to jobs and the industry's competitiveness."
• The removal of Ecos could result in up to 20,000 jobs being lost, with a sharp reduction in UK production volumes.

Statistics:

• 54,319 vehicles manufactured in September, a 35.9% drop year-on-year.
• 51,090 car units produced, a 27.1% decrease from last year.
• 47.8% of car units produced were electric or hybrid vehicles.
• Commercial vehicle output dropped by 77.9% to 3,229 units.
• £2 billion estimated cost to JLR due to cyberattack.
• 582,250 vehicles produced so far this year, a 15.2% drop on the equivalent period of 2024.
• 200,000 UK jobs supported by JLR's supply chain.
• 60,000 automotive manufacturing workers could be affected by the removal of Ecos.

Sources:

• Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
• British vehicle production figures for September
• Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) production shutdown due to cyberattack
• Labour's pledge to scrap employee car ownership schemes (Ecos) in last year's budget
• SMMT's warning about the impact of removing Ecos on jobs and industry competitiveness.