Retooling leads to UK car production dip, but YTD figures at 6-year high

Although slightly fewer cars were manufactured in the UK last month than in September 2013, production in the first nine months of 2014 was the highest in six years. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, commented that “it is testament to the strength of the automotive industry that it continues to break records – yielding the best year-to-date performance for six years and comfortably surpassing one million units.” The reason for the “slight dip” in output in September was, he added, that some plants undertook retooling for new models; this investment, he added, will help increase future production volumes.

Total UK car production in September 2014 was 137,068 units, down from 141,056 a year earlier. More than three quarters (75.1 per cent) of this total was exported, compared with 79.4 per cent of output in September 2013. Production for the domestic market rose 17.7 per cent year-on-year to 34,121 units.