The continuing collapse of the UK car industry By johnredwood on March 29, 2025

The car industry has worried about Brexit then got its continued tariff free access to the EU. It has worried about US tariffs though never faced high ones until now. The industry’s output has more than halved. This has nothing to do with either of these two much discussed developments. It has everything to do with government policy forcing the industry to shut down all its petrol and diesel capacity and build new plant to make battery vehicles.

As some of us have been pointing out most car buyers do not want battery cars and many buyers cannot afford them. No sensible green campaigner would want one. Take it home and plug it in and your vehicle will be charged with electricity burning more gas as there is not normally any spare renewable power waiting.

Honda has left the UK and the EU to consolidate car making in Japan. Ford doesn't make any cars here anymore. BMW are going to make either most or all their electric Minis abroad with Cowley’s future bleak. The UK has watched as China has built a dominant position in making batteries and affordable battery cars. The UK has insufficient battery capacity.

It is sad to see the fast collapse of car making in the UK. It is disastrous that government and industry are locked together with a policy that is doing so much damage.

2017 UK car production. 1.7 million

2024 UK car production 0.78 million