Production of vehicles in Britain slows

Production of vehicles in Britain slows

The wheels of industry in UK car manufacturing were slowing in March, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing a fall of 6.3% in output over the same period of 2012.

The output of cars in March was 126,909, whereas the production of commercial vehicles also fell in March. A drop of 18.7% was seen in such production, over the same period of 2012, when 8,027 commercial vehicles were produced. Engine manufacture also dropped to 220,032, which was a reduction of 6%.

Overall, during the first quarter of 2013, the UK saw a drop of 2% in car manufacturing over the same quarter of 2012. With demand lowering in Europe for cars, it may be that vehicle manufacturers over here are struggling to find buyers.

March also saw the extended Easter holiday, which meant traditionally many production facilities were closed for a number of days. However, the SMMT expect manufacturing in the UK to grow during 2013, with SMMT's interim chief executive, Mike Baunton, commenting: "Despite ongoing difficult market conditions, UK automotive manufacturing is... fuelled by significant investment from global automotive companies."

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