Car production in UK at 25 year low, industry says

The UK's automotive sector saw its weakest September in 25 years as a result of a large decrease in the number of vehicles exported to the US, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The figures show that last month, as the sector continued struggling to recover from the coronavirus lockdown, factories in the UK produced 114,732 cars - 5% fewer than in September the previous year.

Car production in the UK is set to fall below 1 million vehicles for the first time since 1999, following an almost total shutdown in April and May.

“These figures are yet more grim reading for UK automotive as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc both at home and in key overseas markets,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

The majority of cars made in Britain are for export, and shipments to the EU and US were down 3.3% and 30% respectively in September when compared with the same month in 2019.

Domestic demand, however, was up 14.5% on the previous year, though this only accounted for 27,199 vehicles in total.

The SMMT warned that 2021 would be a difficult year for the sector, especially if the government was unable to reach a Brexit trade deal with the European Union to allow the tariff-free export of UK-made cars.

“With production already strained, the additional blow of ‘no deal’ would be devastating for the sector, its workers and their families,” Hawes said.

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