UK car production reaches six-year high

UK car production rose 4.5% in first 11 months of year and is now set to pass the annual 1.5m mark for the first time in six years, latest figures show.

For the year-to-November, 1,424,023 units have been manufactured, although preparation for new model production at several UK sites saw November’s output dip 3.6%, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “With output up 4.5% in 2013 to-date, UK car manufacturing is on track to pass 1.5m units this year, the best performance since 2007.

“A number of mass-market manufacturers have this year used November to prepare their production lines for new models, so volumes dropped 3.6% in the month.
However, the forthcoming new models will play an integral part in what is predicted to be an even stronger 2014 for UK car manufacturing.”

Of the vehicles produced, 84.2% are set for export (2012: 84.9%). For the first 11 months that figure was 79.4% (2012: 82.7%). Reduced demand in the Eurozone is the main factor for the decline.

It was a different picture in the commercial vehicle sector where output fell 35.7% in November to 7,061 units. CV production over the first 11 months of the year was down 21.5% to 82,535 units.

“Ongoing weak European demand and changes to UK manufacturing operations impacted commercial vehicle production in November,” said Hawes.

“While we expect the downward trend to continue for a few months yet, CV manufacturing in the UK has a solid base from which to build with more than 200 vans, trucks and buses rolling off domestic production lines every day.”

Engine manufacturing rose for a third successive month in November, up 3.4% to 231,371 units. Output is up 2.5% over the year-to-date to 2,404,146 units.

The November rise was driven by exports and a robust home market performance over the year-to-date.