UK vehicle production falls to record low

In February, under 60,000 new vehicles rolled off the production lines of the UK’s car factories – 59% fewer than for the same period a year ago. The albeit lower volume commercial vehicle market fared even worse with a 72% drop to 5870 vehicles. Added together, total vehicle production for February was 65,647 – a 61% fall. Vehicles for export – which soaks up more than three quarters of the total output – were 58% down while the number built for the home market fell by more than two thirds. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which compiles the figures, said over 300,000 units had been lost from total vehicle output in the past 14 months. SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt (pictured) said: “The large fall in February’s vehicle production is a direct result of weak demand and the need to protect the highly-skilled workforce and valuable industrial capability in the UK automotive sector. We have seen action to encourage longer-term investment, but still require government support for short-time working, easier access to finance and credit and the implementation of a vehicle scrappage scheme.”