Automotive News – Late April 2025
Estimated reading time 2 minutes
A senior Nissan boss has warned that the UK is “not a competitive place to be building cars”.
Nissan’s Alan Johnson told MPs that the Sunderland factory “pays more for its electricity than any other Nissan plant in the world”.
A late shift at the Wearside plant was closed in February, but no jobs were lost after workers were moved to other lines. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y45ed494do
Vehicle manufacturing growth in March fails to offset first quarter decline.
- Vehicle production rises 17.1% compared with weak March last year, but total Q1 output down -6.3% ahead of new US tariff announcements.
- Car output rises for first time in a year, reflecting model changes in 2024, with commercial vehicle output also up as demand stabilises following two years of post-pandemic volatility.
- Exports drive growth in car production, while commercial vehicle output rises through domestic demand.
UK car and commercial vehicle production rose by 17.1% to 79,018 units last month, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Output of cars, vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches increased in comparison with a weak March last year, when the earlier Easter break reduced working days and significant model changeovers began to impact output. https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-manufacturing-growth-in-march-fails-to-offset-first-quarter-decline/
JLR is reducing waste across its industrial operations in the UK and Europe through a £100m reuse, refurbishment, repurposing and recycling drive.
As its electrification transformation progresses to the next stage, with the upcoming launch of Range Rover Electric, JLR’s industrial operations are readying themselves for the next generation of electric vehicles and undergoing a revamp across all facilities. https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/jlr-drives-100m-value-from-resuse-initiatives-to-cut-waste/
