Automotive News – Early August 2025
Estimated reading time 5 minutes
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has urged the UK Government to release full model eligibility for the newly announced Electric Car Grant (ECG), as battery electric vehicle (BEV) market growth slowed in July.
According to figures published this week by the SMMT, BEV registrations rose 9.1% in July, a modest increase compared to the 34.6% growth recorded during the first half of 2025.
July marked the second weakest month of BEV growth this year, following April’s market distortion caused by tax changes. https://www.edie.net/government-urged-to-provide-clarity-on-electric-car-grant-eligibility-as-ev-sales-falter/
Eight months of decline for new van market puts strain on EV ambitions.
- New light commercial vehicle market falls -5.1% in July, the eighth successive month of decline.
- Electric van uptake up 72.6% but market share lags behind mandated levels.
- 2025 outlook revised down to 321,000 units, reflecting tough economic conditions and weak business confidence.
The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell by -5.1% in July with 24,433 vans, 4x4s, pickups and taxis joining the road, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This marks the sector’s eighth consecutive month of decline, and the weakest July since 2022, as sluggish business confidence deters fleet investment, and economic conditions remain tough. https://www.smmt.co.uk/eight-months-of-decline-for-new-van-market-puts-strain-on-ev-ambitions/
New car registrations stall in July but recovery expected.
- New car market declines -5.0% in July to 140,154 units following two months of growth.
- Battery electric vehicle registrations rise again but growth moderates to 9.1% as full Electric Car Grant eligibility urgently needed.
- Market year-to-date up 2.4% to 1.18 million units as 2025 outlook revised upwards to 1.9 million.
The new car market stalled in July with registrations falling -5.0% to 140,154 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance was the weakest for the month since 2022 and some -10.8% lower than in pre-pandemic 2019, demonstrating the market’s volatility and wider economic setting
Tata Motors have announced they are to Acquire Iveco Group, Together Creating a Global Player in Commercial Vehicles.
The combination brings together complementary capabilities, global reach, and a shared strategic vision to drive long-term growth and unlock significant value
The Iveco Group Board has recommended Tata Motors’ all-cash voluntary tender offer for Iveco Group common shares. Completion of the offer is conditional on the separation of Iveco Group’s defence business https://www.ivecogroup.com/media/corporate_press_releases/2025/july/tata_motors_to_acquire_iveco_group_together_creating_a_global_player_in_commercial_vehicles
Mr PB Balaji has been named as new chief executive of luxury car maker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
He will replace Adrian Mardell who announced at the beginning of this month that he will step down from the role he has held for three years. Mr Mardell, who has been with the company for 35 years, was appointed CEO in late 2022 after Thierry Bolloré’s departure.
His departure had reportedly been planned for some time. According to the Financial Times, sources close to the company claimed Mardell took on the CEO role with a three-year term in mind and had plans to retire.
New research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has found that demand for second-hand electric vehicles (EVs) surged by 40% in the second quarter of 2025. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) transactions reached a record 68,721 units, accounting for 3.4% of all used car sales in the UK.
The rise in used EV sales is part of a broader expansion in the UK’s circular automotive market.
Overall, the used car sector grew by 1.7% in the second quarter, with nearly two million transactions recorded. For the first half of 2025, the market returned to pre-pandemic levels, with more than four million used cars changing hands, up 2.2% compared to the same period last year. https://www.edie.net/uk-second-hand-ev-market-records-40-growth-in-q2/
Luxury car maker, Jaguar Land Rover, delivered its 11th successive profitable quarter in the three months ended June 30, 2025 – but it suffered a hit to its bottom line due to US President Donald Trump’s new tariff quotas.
First quarter revenues for the company, which has manufacturing plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and at Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, were £6.6bn, down 9.2% versus Q1 FY25.
Wholesale volumes and revenues in the quarter were impacted by the application of 27.5% US trade tariffs on UK- and EU‑produced cars exported to the US, and the planned wind-down of legacy Jaguar vehicles ahead of the launch of new Jaguar electric vehicles. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2156876-jlr-delivers-11th-successive-profitable-quarter-despite-trump-tariffs-chaos?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NorthWest_11th_Aug_2025_Daily
Almost 11 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold worldwide in the first seven months of 2025 – a 27% year-on-year increase despite the initial chilling effect of policy decisions out of Washington.
EV research house Rho Motion recorded 10.7 million EV sales between the start of January 2025 and the end of July 2025.
China remained the largest market, with 6.5 million vehicles sold. 2.3 million were sold in Europe, one million in North America, and around 900,000 in other markets.
