Car production in the UK surged by 38.6% year-on-year to 70,831 units in September 2026, marking the strongest September output since 2023 and accelerating from a 6.1% rise in August, as manufacturers recover from a cyberattack-hit comparison a year earlier. Total vehicle production rose 36.3% to 74,031 units, the strongest growth since August 2022. The EU remained the largest export destination, accounting for 57.5% of car shipments, with exports up 12.7%, while shipments to the US jumped 234.8% and those to China soared 357.7%, albeit from a low base. However, total car and commercial vehicle production fell 3% year-on-year to 564,537 units in the first nine months. The SMMT warned that the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” rules and tougher post-Brexit rules of origin could threaten the sector, while UK’s electric-vehicle sales mandate is adding pressure on manufacturers. UK light vehicle production is forecast to fall 2.3% to 731,000 units in 2026 before recovering to 752,000 in 2027.