British car exports to China nudge 140k last year
60% of all UK-built models are from premium manufacturers
The British car industry is not only alive and well – it is exporting in greater numbers than it has in years. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that exports of UK-built cars to China have increased five-fold since 2009. In 2014,137,410 cars made here were exported to China, an increase of 14.5 per cent over 2013. Only the UK bought more British-built cars than China last year, with exports to China greater than combined UK exports to Brazil, India and Russia.
The British car industry is not only alive and well – it is exporting in greater numbers than it has in years. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that exports of UK-built cars to China have increased five-fold since 2009. In 2014,137,410 cars made here were exported to China, an increase of 14.5 per cent over 2013. Only the UK bought more British-built cars than China last year, with exports to China greater than combined UK exports to Brazil, India and Russia.
The trend in China reflects substantial growth in the wider Asian market, with the number of UK-built cars exported to Asia having more than trebled in five years. In 2014, the UK exported 220,682 cars to the region, compared to 60,804 in 2009. Asia is now the UK automotive industry’s largest export market after Europe, with 18.5 per cent of all cars destined for the region.
In 2014, the automotive sector represented a greater share of total UK exports than ever before, accounting for 11.2 per cent of revenue, valued at £26.2 billion. The UK exported 1,195,190 cars to more than 100 countries worldwide last year, marking a 54.7 per cent increase over 2009, when 772,210 cars were exported.
“Economic growth in Asia over the last five years has seen demand for new cars accelerate massively,” commented SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “A desire for high-quality premium vehicles with a strong brand heritage has placed the UK in a prime position to take advantage of this emerging market. The British car industry’s success in the region is down to the quality of our globally competitive products built with our engineering excellence and our highly skilled workforce. The strength and importance of the UK automotive sector to the UK economy is self-evident and automotive exports at 11.2 per cent are the highest share of UK exports in history.”
Economic growth in a number of Asian markets such as China has led to an increased demand for high-quality and luxury vehicles. The UK has a rich heritage of producing premium vehicles, and has taken advantage of this in recent years. Significant investment in brands such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren and Rolls-Royce mean that 60 per cent of all UK-built models on offer are from premium manufacturers.
Not only has growth in the Asian market seen a surge in UK exports, it has also helped the average export value of UK-built cars increase from £10,200 in 2004 to £21,900 in 2014.
Export volumes by region
| 2014 | 2009 | % change | |
| EU28 | 634,168 | 535,908 | 18.3 |
| Asia | 220,682 | 60,804 | 262.9 |
| America | 151,472 | 94,716 | 59.9 |
| Other Europe | 136,516 | 52,861 | 158.3 |
| Australasia | 25,565 | 11,072 | 130.9 |
| Africa | 21,067 | 13,450 | -17.6 |
Top 10 Asian export markets
| 2014 | 2009 | % change | |
| China | 137,410 | 19,417 | 607.7 |
| Japan | 16,625 | 12,195 | 36.3 |
| South Korea | 13,337 | 2,315 | 476.1 |
| United Arab Emirates | 9,619 | 2,570 | 274.3 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3,138 | 787 | 298.7 |
| Taiwan | 3,105 | 543 | 471.8 |
| India | 2,836 | 309 | 817.8 |
| Kuwait | 2,548 | 1,259 | 102.4 |
| Hong Kong | 2,362 | 551 | 328.7 |
| Qatar | 2,085 | 457 | 356.7 |
There has been growth in almost all Asian export markets since 2009. The number of cars exported to South Korea has increased five-fold, making it the UK’s eighth largest export market outside of Europe – up from 16th in 2009. Export volumes are still modest in a number of Asian markets, with the majority of countries enforcing high import duty to drive local production. However, there has been significant growth in the number of cars exported to most Asian countries, underlining the strong appetite for UK-built cars.
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