Automotive News – Early June 2026
Car maker Nissan could soon build vehicles designed by the Chinese company Chery at its UK factory after an agreement was signed between the two firms. Nissan said it will study whether it can build the cars at its Sunderland plant, with a possibility of production starting in 2027.
Under the terms of the non-binding memorandum of understanding, Nissan will continue to fully own the factory and employ all its staff.
Sourced from BBC News website
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The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market rose 3.6% in May with 23,620 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance marks a second successive month of growth for the first time since 2024.
Overall growth was driven by increased demand for large vans, with registrations up 18.6% to 17,380 units and a market share of 73.6%, compared with a 64.3% share in May last year. Uptake of 4x4s also grew, up 16.2% to 832 units, while deliveries of medium and small vans fell by -7.5% and -24.5% to 3,762 and 508 units respectively.
Sourced from SMMT
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The UK’s new car market delivered its strongest May performance since before the pandemic, with registrations rising 7.1% to 160,662 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance was the best recorded for the month since 2019, although still -12.6% behind pre-pandemic levels.
A resurgence in private buyers drove the increase, with registrations up 17.2% as consumers responded to increasingly competitive offers from an unprecedented range of brands and a 6.4% increase in model choice – including a 25.6% uplift in BEV products year to date2 Fleet demand grew more modestly, rising 1.8% but still accounted for more than half (57.1%) of all registrations. The smaller business sector declined -18.8%, although in volume terms the drop was marginal (720 units).
Sourced from SMMT
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The UK government is set to water down its target for how many new cars that are sold need to be electric vehicles (EVs).
Under the current rules, 80% of all new cars sold in the UK need to be EVs by 2030, but car makers and trade unions have been lobbying government for years to reduce the target because of concerns over costs and jobs.
Meanwhile, sustainability groups say any weakening of the target will threaten the UK’s long-term electrification and climate goals. Sourced from BBC News website
