UK automotive production highest in six years

UK automotive production highest in six years

Although production was slightly down in November, the amount of cars produced by UK industry looks to be the highest in six years, looking at year-on-year performance.

In the recent production report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), we see that over 1.4 million cars have been produced in the UK in the first 11 months of this year. This is an increase of 4.5% on year-on-year numbers. November saw a slight decrease, 3.6% down on November 2012, with 137,624 vehicles built here.

However, this means that automotive production in the UK is well on track for it's best year of performance in six years, with an estimated 1.5 million vehicles to be produced by the end of the year. Reaching this figure will make 2013 the best year for vehicle production since 2007.

The chief executive of the SMMT, Mike Hawes, commented that many of the big hitters use the month of November to gear up their production lines for the forthcoming production of their new models for 2014. This can explain the drop in the number of cars coming from their production facilities. He also mentioned that these impending models are sure to increase numbers in 2014, which the SMMT are predicting to be an even more robust year for manufacturing in the UK.

The production of commercial vehicles on the other hand was also down in November, this time by 35.7%, and down in 2013 as a whole by 21.5%. The SMMT put this down to weak demand from the continent, and also a by-product of manufacturing facilities winding down in preparation for new model production.

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