The UK reported a negative automotive trade balance in all the years recorded. In 2023, the country imported some 68.1 billion Great British pounds in automotive goods, compared to 47.1 billion Great British pounds in exports.
Economic contribution The UK’s overall trade balance of goods was a negative 270.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. That same year, the motor industry contributed about 22 billion British pounds to the UK’s economy. This was an increase compared with 2021 when the motor industry was responsible for adding 14.1 billion British pounds to the country’s gross domestic product. Production figures In 2022, the UK produced roughly 775,000 million cars, a notable drop from nearly 859,600 million cars produced in 2021. Although the UK car production was declining for the past three years, the significant decrease in production that occurred in 2020 was mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, Mexico was the number one country of origin for U.S. light vehicle imports, with a value of almost 78.5 billion U.S. dollars. Japan and South Korea were also leading countries of origin for U.S. imports. The Japanese brand Toyota was among the best-selling passenger car brands in the United States.

In 2023, some **** percent of cars imported into the United Kingdom originated in the European Union (EU). In contrast, under ** percent of the UK's automotive imports were from China, which was the country's second trading partner.

United States Imports from United Kingdom was US$68.83 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from United Kingdom - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

The United Kingdom's total Imports in 2024 were valued at US$809.21 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The United Kingdom's main import partners were: China, the United States and Germany. The top three import commodities were: Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers; Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Exports were valued at US$508.69 Billion. In 2024, The United Kingdom had a trade deficit of US$300.52 Billion.

In 2023, the United Kingdom imported vehicles to the value of approximately 90.1 billion U.S. dollars. This category comprises vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof.

United Kingdom Imports from United States was US$91.98 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United Kingdom Imports from United States - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

German car brands are known and exported the world over. The **** was the leading importer of motor vehicles from Germany, followed by the UK and China. Leading importers in the EU include ******, ***** and ***************. At the wheel Car brands such as BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen (VW), to name just a few, are a key part of Germany’s international image and economic standing, belonging to one of the longest-running and most successful industries in the country. While all of the aforementioned brands rely on global automotive sales as their main sources of revenue, they also have to contend with a changing industry due to the introduction of electric cars. Any car brand wanting to continue being successful in the future has to integrate electric vehicle production into its process. In the broader context of Germany aiming to achieve energy transition, these new cars take on additional significance. Globally, the VW Group so far held *** percent of the plug-in electric vehicle market in 2024. Volkswagen leading car brand Which car brands are the most popular among German vehicle owners? Based on ownership share, Volkswagen consistently wins the race. However, the company also recorded lower ownership figures from 2020 to 2022. Opel and Mercedez-Benz were other popular choices. German car brands were also among the leading German brands worldwide, by brand value, with Mercedes-Benz valued at almost ** billion U.S. dollars and Volkswagen at around ** billion U.S. dollars.

The European Union's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$2.80 Trillion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The European Union's main export partners were: the United States, the United Kingdom and China. The top three export commodities were: Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers; Pharmaceutical products and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$2.64 Trillion. In 2024, The European Union had a trade surplus of US$159.68 Billion.

The European Union is the main export destination for passenger cars exported by the United Kingdom. In 2024, ** percent of the cars sold by UK-based manufacturers went to member states of the EU. Total exports by the UK to the EU were valued at around ** million British pounds in the fourth quarter of that same year, and the EU is one of its most important trading partners. In recent years, the discrepancy between exports and imports has exacerbated the UK’s negative trade balance with the EU. Motor industry contribution In 2023, the UK motor industry contributed ** billion British pounds to the economy. It was the first year that the industry's revenue started to recover from the decline which started in 2020. Car production volumes The increase in economic contribution is a direct result of a decrease in production output. In 2023, around ******* passenger cars were manufactured. This was around **** percent more than the volume produced in the previous year.

The United Kingdom's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$508.69 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The United Kingdom's main export partners were: the United States, China and Germany. The top three export commodities were: Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers; Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$809.21 Billion. In 2024, The United Kingdom had a trade deficit of US$300.52 Billion.

In 2023, demand for UK-built cars grew by 16.8 percent year-on-year to some 905,100 units. The United Kingdom exports nearly eight out of 10 cars assembled in UK plants. Vulnerability to trade disruptions Sales and exports of UK-manufactured vehicles began to fall in 2016. Slumping investments amid Brexit fears, as well as higher costs of production, are likely to have contributed to a slowdown in demand. Since the UK’s referendum on membership of the European Union, the British pound has fallen in value. This may have been expected to be good news for exporters, who garner more interest with relatively cheaper products. However, the weak pound is unfavorable for vehicle manufacturers due to their international supply chains. The European Union is the UK auto industry's leading trade partner, accounting for most of its car imports. EU markets also account for around six in 10 UK car exports. Inflation impacts new and used car sales The price inflation recorded in the United Kingdom impacted all product types, passenger cars included. New car purchases were the most affected by the soaring prices: Their consumer price index was at its highest in the past fifteen years in 2023. In contrast, the consumer price index for used car purchases decreased in 2023, down from its record-breaking 2022 value.

The United States was the leading country for exports from the United Kingdom in 2024, with **** percent of all UK exports going to this market. Germany was the second-largest export market for the UK in this year, followed by the Netherlands, with these countries accounting for *** and *** percent of UK exports respectively. During this year, cars were the most valuable goods commodity exported from the UK, while general business services were the most valuable type of service exported from the UK. UK imports most from Germany Although the United States was the largest export market, Germany was the country from which the UK imported the highest share of goods, with **** percent of the UK’s imports coming from the country in 2024. The United States was the second-largest source of imports for the UK, with *** percent originating from there in 2024, with China a close third at *** percent of UK imports. The main types of trade goods imported from the rest of the world in the UK included cars, oil, and mechanical power generators. The Balance of Trade In the fourth quarter of 2024, the United Kingdom had an overall trade deficit of over **** billion pounds. Although service exports from the UK to the rest of the world amounted to more than ***** billion pounds, the UK imported far more goods than it exported, resulting in a goods trade deficit of **** billion pounds, bringing down the overall trade balance. As of 2023, the UK was behind only the U.S. when it came to the overall size of the trade deficit.

In 2024, 12.5 percent of goods imports into the United Kingdom came from Germany, making it the main import partner that year. Imports from the United States accounted for ten percent of UK goods imports, making America the UK's second main import partner, followed by China on 9.8 percent. As of this year, the overall import value of cars to the UK was approximately 38.4 billion British pounds, the most of any commodity in 2024. Europe remains UK's main trading partner Several years after the Brexit vote, and the eventual departure from the European Union, European countries account for most of the UK's trade. As of 2024, approximately 50.8 percent of the UK's exports went to Europe, with 60.1 percent of imports coming from there, the vast majority of which were in the European Single Market. After Europe, American countries were the UK's main destination for exports, at around 19.2 percent, while countries in the Asia Pacific region were the second-main source for imports, at 19.1 percent in 2024. UK attitudes to Brexit in 2025 Since the UK left the EU in 2020, there has been a gradual but consistent increase in the share of people who believe Brexit to have been a mistake. As of January 2025, when asked if they thought it was right or wrong to leave the EU, approximately 55 percent thought it was the wrong decision, compared with 30 percent who thought it was the correct choice. In addition to this, a majority of Britons thought that the impacts of leaving the EU had been mainly negative. Regarding international trade, 57 percent believed that Brexit had been detrimental, compared with just 11 percent who thought it had a positive impact.

This bar chart shows the value of total imports of transport equipment, excluding road vehicles, to the United Kingdom (UK), annually between 2012 and 2016. In 2013, the total value of other transport equipment reached *** million U.S. dollars.

In 2024, the United Kingdom imported around 38.4 billion British pounds worth of cars, the most of any commodity in this year. Medicinal and pharmaceutical products were the second most valuable commodity imported into the UK in 2024, with imports worth over 27.2 billion pounds.

Cars were the most valuable type of commodity exported from the United Kingdom in 2024, with exports of this commodity valued at approximately 32.9 billion British pounds. Mechanical power generators were the second-most valuable commodity in 2024, with an export value of around 32.7 billion pounds in this year. By comparison, the most valuable import commodity was also cars, amounting to over 38.4 billion British pounds. The next most valuable import commodity was medicinal and pharmaceutical products at over 27.2 million pounds in this year. UK main trading partners Although the share of both imports and exports from the European Union has been declining recently, the single market is still by far the UK's main trading partner. In terms of individual countries, the United States was the main export partner in 2024 at 16.1 percent of all exports, while Germany was the UK's main import partner with 12.5 percent of imports coming from there in 2024. A main argument of the Leave vote, was that the UK should seek to improve up its trade with the rest of the world, outside of Europe. The success of this 'Global Britain' strategy, depends on the UK significantly scaling up its trade with other continents, with countries outside of Europe still responsible for far less trade than European ones. Brexit and EU trade At the start of 2021, the United Kingdom exited both the European Single Market and the European Customs Union, with the UK's trading relationship with the EU now determined by a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Although the TCA continued tariff and quota-free goods trade between the EU and UK, a number of customs checks came into force, increasing trade friction between the two parties. The status of Northern Ireland in the initial agreement was also different from the rest of the UK. Goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain were initially subject to customs checks, to prevent customs checks occurring at the border with the Republic of Ireland. In February 2023, it was announced that under a new EU-UK agreement called the Windsor Framework, some goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain will be subject to fewer checks.

As of January 2017, Ford was the car maker with the largest dealership network in the United Kingdom (UK). When compared to figures from July 2014, Ford had consecutively higher numbers in car dealerships in their franchise network than any other manufacturer, numbering 475 in the beginning of 2017. The first Ford dealership in the UK was established in 1910, while imports of Ford vehicles from the US had started seven years earlier. By 2016, Ford operated approximately 11,700 dealerships globally.

 Car dealerships in the UK make average loss of nearly 20k GBP in February 2019  

The profitability of car dealerships in the UK was highly affected by monthly fluctuations. Figures for the past three years show that March proved to be consecutively more profitable than any other month of the year, while February 2019 recorded an average loss worth 19,600 British pounds. Between February 2018 and February 2019, car dealerships had made nearly one percent in net profits as a share of sales.

 Ford is car market leader  

Looking at Ford’s sales figures, it is hardly surprising that the company had the largest number of dealerships. In 2018, Ford had sold more than 254,000 cars in the UK, making it the leading car company that year.