UK car production falls amid weak domestic market - SMMT
UK car production fell by 4% in October amid declines in consumer and business confidence, according to data released on Thursday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
In total, 5,622 fewer units rolled off production lines than in the same month last year, as weak sentiment was blamed for an 11% deterioration in production for the home market.
Meanwhile, manufacturing of vehicles produced for export, which made up 84% of the month's total production, dropped by 3% due to soft demand in key foreign markets.
Production has now fallen in 16 of the last 17 months, with August having registered growth after ‘no deal’ Brexit contingency shutdowns earlier in the year artificially boosted output.
As a result, year-to-date production is 14% behind the same stage in 2018 at 1,123,926 units, with more than 80% of completed vehicles heading abroad.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Yet another month of falling car production makes these extremely worrying times for the sector. Our global competitiveness is under threat, and to safeguard it we need to work closely with the next government to ensure frictionless trade, free of tariffs, with regulatory alignment and continued access to talent in the future.
"This sector is export led, already shipping cars to more than 160 countries, and in a period of unprecedented change a close trading relationship with the EU and preferential trading with all these other markets will be essential to keep automotive in Britain."