UK new-car registrations surge while Volkswagen confirms additional 50,000 job cuts

Preliminary figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveal that new-car registrations in the United Kingdom climbed about 13% in August, surpassing 90,000 units and marking the highest August total in eight years. The data also suggest that battery-electric vehicles accounted for roughly 30% of registrations, underscoring the sector’s shift toward electrification. In a separate development, Volkswagen’s supervisory board gave unanimous approval to the Future Plan 2030, which adds a further 50,000 job cuts to the restructuring already announced earlier.

Chief Executive Oliver Blume said the plan signals responsibility toward the workforce, partners and industrial jobs worldwide, and includes a three-figure-billion-euro investment to strengthen the group’s iconic brands. The job reductions are intended to lower costs, simplify the model range and reduce annual investment spending by €6 billion. Volkswagen aims to reallocate capital to its highest-return brands and avoid excess capacity, while maintaining ambitious long-term earnings targets.