The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that only 59,203 vehicles (both passenger and commercial) were produced in April - a 25% decrease compared to March's output.

The decline significantly impacted exports, with:

• Passenger car exports down 10.1%

• Commercial vehicle exports plunging 75.8%
  Total exports stood at 44,326 units, while 14,877 units were destined for the domestic market.

Key export market impacts:

• US shipments fell 19.1% (UK's largest market)

• EU exports declined 2.7% (second-largest market)

• China imports rose 44%

• Turkey saw 32.2% growth
  (Note: These gains remain substantially smaller in volume/value than US/EU trade)

The report attributed the US decline to:

• 27% tariffs initially imposed on UK auto imports

• Later reduced to 10% under a bilateral agreement

• Manufacturers had front-loaded March exports to beat the April tariff implementation

Historical context:
While the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) caused greater disruption, analysts consider 1952 as the worst production year under normal circumstances, making April's figures the most severe non-pandemic contraction in 70 years.