UK car manufacturing falls in June

Data shows 136,901 cars rolled off production lines compared to 158,641 in the same month last year.

Nearly 30,000 cars were produced for the home market in June 2017 compared to more than 35,000 in June last year. Meanwhile, 107,270 cars were produced for exports compared to 123,389 in the same month last year.

The SMMT says that it is the third consecutive month of decline, which has resulted in a -2.9% year-to-date dip in output. So far 866,656 cars have rolled of production lines compared to 892,384. The performance is, however, still the second highest for 12 years.

Says SMMT chief Mike Hawes: “World-class engineering, productivity, strong government collaboration and massive investment in the past few years have helped UK automotive become a global success story.

“At the heart of this has been the free and frictionless trade we’ve enjoyed with the EU – by far our biggest customer and supplier. But Brexit uncertainty is not helping investment and growth is stalling.

“The government has been in “listening” mode but now it must put on the table the concrete plans that will assure the future competitiveness of the sector. Investors need certainty so, at the very least, the UK must seek an interim deal which maintains single market and customs union membership until we have in place the complex new agreement sought with the EU.”