#uk-automotive-sales

#uk-automotive-sales

UK businesses face some of the highest electricity costs in Europe, a situation that has worsened following the recent surge in global gas prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In 2025, German car companies earned nearly 44% less than in 2024, with earnings before interest and taxes dropping to just 24.9 billion, the lowest since 2020.

Due to a parts supply challenge with a supplier, we are temporarily pausing production on certain vehicle lines at our Solihull production facility. We are working closely with that supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimise any impact on our clients or our operations.

Lucid delivered a remarkably small number of vehicles in Q1, at 3,903. It produced 5,500. The company blamed much of this on a supplier's lack of inventory, which cost it 29 days of disruption.

According to a survey of over 13,000 members conducted by the AA, an estimated 21.7 million journeys are expected across the UK on Thursday, making this one of the busiest Easters in recent years.

On average, fuel prices are up almost a dollar per gallon, or 25 percent, according to AAA. For a nation as addicted to the automotive as we are, that's bad news. Except, of course, for electric vehicles.

Chinese state-owned carmaker Chery is pressing ahead with its rapid UK expansion by launching a fourth brand in the British market, underlining its ambition to become a long-term player in one of Europe's most competitive automotive landscapes. The group confirmed it will introduce vehicles under the Lepas brand, a new line focused on battery-electric and hybrid SUVs aimed at younger families. While Lepas is being developed primarily with Europe in mind, the UK will be one of its early launch markets.

In February, new car registrations reached 90,100, marking the best performance for the month in 22 years and the highest volume for February since 2004. The 7.2% year-on-year increase reflects a recovery in consumer confidence, with much of this momentum driven by private retail buyers returning to showrooms after a period of cautious spending.

Aston Martin Lagonda has warned profits will miss expectations after a bruising year of falling sales and pressure from US tariffs. The iconic British car maker told investors its gross profit margins and adjusted earnings will come in "slightly below" the lower end of forecasts. That means earnings are now expected to fall short of £184 million for 2025. Bosses admitted they had faced a "highly challenging trading environment".