UK car production slumped by 11% in July to a total of 121,051 vehicles. Domestic year-on-year demand plunged by 35%, while exports, representing approximately four out of every five cars made in Britain, fell by 4.2%.
Commenting on these figures, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes blamed a “lack of political and economic clarity” and called for “the continuation of beneficial trading arrangements with the EU and other key markets”.
However, he also cautioned against reading too much into SMMT statistics. “While the industry is undoubtedly feeling the effects of recent uncertainty in the domestic market, drawing long-term conclusions from monthly snapshots requires a health warning,” Hawes added. “The bigger picture is complex and month-by-month fluctuations are inevitable as manufacturers manage product cycles, operational changes and the delicate balance of supply and demand from market to market.”