The US’s introduction of tariffs on foreign-built vehicles resulted in last month being the worst May for vehicle production in the UK since 1949 – excluding 2020, when Covid-19 lockdowns shuttered many plants.
Several car manufacturers, including Aston Martin, Lotus and JLR, paused shipments to the US following its introduction of a 25% levy on car imports.
This was soon reduced to 10% for the UK, for an annual quote of 100,000 units. Each car over that number – the UK sent 102,000 Stateside last year – is charged the full 25% levy that applies to other nations.
