Car production up 11.7% in first half of year
Car production rose 11.7% in the first half of the year as supply shortages eased, new figures show.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 450,168 new cars were manufactured in the UK between January and June, compared with 403,131 during the same period last year.
The increase was driven by exports, which were up 13.6% to 359,940.
Double digit growth for UK car production since January
🚗car production rebounds 11.7% in first 6 months⚡️Electrified vehicle production surges 71.6% to new first half record🔮outlook anticipates UK factories turning out 860,000 cars, up 10.9% on 2022https://t.co/vsSgrNkLnV pic.twitter.com/pSPIIgCjpi
— SMMT (@SMMT) July 27, 2023
Four out of five cars built in the UK are sold overseas.
The SMMT said manufacturers are increasingly able to manage the global shortages of parts such as semiconductors that have constrained production since the coronavirus pandemic.
Increasing numbers of hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles are being built, with combined volumes up 71.6% in the first half of 2023, representing more than a third of all UK car production.
The automotive industry received a boost last week when it emerged that Tata Sons – the Indian owner of Jaguar Land Rover – plans to build a £4 billion battery factory in the UK.
With 8 in 10 UK built cars heading to overseas markets, free and fair global trade – especially of the latest, zero emission electric vehicles – is essential
The EU remains the UK’s largest export market accounting for 59.5% of all British car shipmentshttps://t.co/vsSgrNljdt pic.twitter.com/OzbFh1qHJt
— SMMT (@SMMT) July 27, 2023
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “UK car manufacturing is growing again, with production – especially of electrified models – increasing and major investment announcements making headlines.
“This is testament to the resilience of the sector and its undoubted strengths: a skilled and productive workforce, world-class R&D (research and development), and efficient, productive plants.
“But we must build on this momentum, sustain growth and attract further investments with a strategy that focuses on competitiveness and which strengthens the UK’s unique automotive offering.”
