UK vehicle production figures released

The latest batch of UK vehicle production statistics covering the month of November 2013 was released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) just before Christmas.

The figures show that car production rose 4.5 per cent in first 11 months of year to 1,424,023 units, and that the overall output for 2013 looks set to pass 1.5 million units for first time in six years. The actual production figures for November show a dip in output of 3.6 per cent as a consequence of plant preparation for new model production at several UK sites.

“With output up 4.5 per cent in 2013 to-date, UK car manufacturing is on track to pass 1.5 million units this year, the best performance since 2007,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.

“A number of mass-market manufacturers have this year used November to prepare their production lines for new models, so volumes dropped 3.6 per cent in the month. However, the forthcoming new models will play an integral part in what is predicted to be an even stronger 2014 for UK car manufacturing.”

The current buoyancy in the UK car sales market is reflected in a smaller percentage of cars produced going for export, although the actual number of cars exported rose by 3,600.

On the commercial vehicle front output fell again in November by 35.7 per cent 7,061 units, bringing CV production over the first 11 months of the year down 21.5 per cent to 82,535 units. Total CV manufacturing volumes is expected to remain subdued until mid-2014.

“Ongoing weak European demand and changes to UK manufacturing operations impacted commercial vehicle production in November,” Mr. Hawes said. “While we expect the downward trend to continue for a few months yet, CV manufacturing in the UK has a solid base from which to build with more than 200 vans, trucks and buses rolling off domestic production lines every day.”

Engine manufacturing rose for a third successive month in November, up 3.4 per cent to 231,371 units, bringing output up 2.5 per cent over the year-to-date to 2,404,146 units. pg