Britain’s car and van production has slumped to its lowest level since 1949, with just 49,810 vehicles built in May 2025—a 32.8 percent drop as US tariffs, ongoing factory model changeovers and restructuring weigh heavily on output.

Year‑to‑date production stands at 348,226 vehicles, down 12.9 percent from a year earlier and the lowest annual total since the early 1950s.

The downturn reflects both structural shifts toward electric vehicle assembly and broader trade pressures affecting the sector.