Automotive News – Early November 2025
Estimated reading time 4 minutes
China has lifted export controls on computer chips vital to car production, the country’s commerce ministry said on Sunday.
Exemptions have been granted to exports made by Chinese-owned Nexperia for civilian use, it said, which should help carmakers who had feared production in Europe would be hit. At the same time, China has also paused an export ban to the US of some materials that are crucial in the semiconductor industry and suspended port fees for American ships.
The moves mark an easing of trade tensions between Beijing and Washington after President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump agreed in October to reduce tariffs on each other and pause other measures for a year.
Used EV market enjoys record uptake as one in 25 buyers switch over summer.
The UK’s used car market grew by 2.8% in the third quarter to reach more than two million (2,021,265) transactions, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the best third quarter since 2021, and marks an 11-quarter growth streak, driven by recovery in the new car market enabling a healthy supply of stock.
Petrol remained the best-selling fuel type in the quarter, with transactions rising 1.9% to 1,145,148 units, while diesel fell -2.8% to 658,664 units. Internal combustion engine vehicles accounted for 89.2% of all cars changing hands, a slight year-on-year fall.
Luxury car maker, Bentley, has extended the lifetime of its internal combustion and hybrid vehicle range. It had planned to go ‘all-electric’ from 2035 but said the shift in scheduling reflects “the realities of a changing world and a dynamic marketplace”.
In a conference at the firm’s Crewe headquarters, the manufacturer announced a series of updates to its Beyond100+ strategy, which it said reflects current market and customer perspectives.
Chairman and CEO, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, outlined a revised product cadence plan that includes extending the offer of internal combustion engine as well as plug-in hybridised models.
The UK new car market remained stable in October as registrations rose 0.5% to reach 144,948 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Registrations by fleets declined slightly, falling -1.5%, but the decline was offset by a small increase in registrations by private buyers, up 2.0%. Business registrations rose by 32.7% although, as a very small volume portion of the market, this sector is always subject to volatility.
UK deliveries of new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) fell by -15.1% in October with 22,896 vans, pickups and 4x4s registered, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The decline follows a robust September market and reflects a contraction in fleet renewal across 2025, down -10.2% to 264,160 units in the year to date, amid weak business confidence and a tough economic environment.
The dual impact of US tariffs and the JLR cyber-security attack have led to a slowdown in global trade activity amongst Greater Birmingham businesses, a new report revealed today.
The latest Quarterly Business Report from the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) revealed a challenging third quarter for exporters. This was particularly the case in the manufacturing sector, where a third of businesses recorded a decline in sales and the share of firms reporting growth fell from 39% to 17%.
And the number of businesses reporting advanced bookings dropped from 28% in the second quarter to 11% in the third quarter. However, service exports grew by 4% in the same period.
The government is set to begin negotiations to link the UK to the EU’s carbon trading regime, around six months after the sides agreed to open talks. Labour says the move would allow companies to avoid a tax on high-emissions products the EU is planning to introduce from next year.
The negotiations, set to start next week, will also aim to broker a deal to reduce border checks on food products introduced after Brexit. The UK has agreed to pay an “appropriate” financial contribution to the EU as part of the deals, which is likely to prove a key sticking point in the talks.
