UK car build fall
August 19th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
SMMT latest figures show the number of cars built in the UK has suffered an 8.9 percent drop.
This is the first fall since October 2009 and comes as European markets phase out scrappage incentive schemes.
Exports for July were down over 10 percent, accounting for 73 percent of homegrown cars. UK car consumption was also down, but by a lesser 4.9 percent.
It’s not complete doom for the UK though: car production for the year to date remains up an impressive 41.7 percent.
‘The easing of demand was anticipated following the end of scrappage incentives in markets around Europe,’ confirmed SMMT chief executive, Paul Everitt.
He was keen to look on the positive side, though. ‘UK vehicle production is more than 40 percent up on last year’s levels and whilst we expect some challenging conditions, economic growth has returned in all major markets around the world.’
Commercial vehicle production is more positive, too – this was up over 10 percent in July 2010.
Admittedly, this is from a low base, but exports showed an encouraging gain of 13 percent for the month nonetheless.
Year to date, commercial vehicle production in the UK is up by 43.2 percent.
Tags: cv, production, sales, SMMT, van