UK car manufacturing records nine-year January high

UK car production in the first month of 2017 was the best January performance since 2008.

There was a rise in production and exports, showing demand from overseas is continuing to drive output, although production for UK customers was slightly down compared with January 2016.

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Production increased by 7.5%, up to a total of 147,922 units, while exports rose by 10.8%, up to a total of 117,916 units.

Production for UK customers was down 3.6%, with 30,006 units built.

These figures show that 2017 has made a promising start, according to the Society of Motoring Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) boss Mike Hawes. However, he urged the need to secure a future trade deal with the EU following the Brexit vote.

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“These latest results highlight, once again, the export-led nature of our industry and the global appeal of our products,” Hawes said.

“Future growth will depend upon maintaining our competitiveness, not least in terms of securing a future trade deal with the EU that allows us tariff-free access to our biggest market and the ability to move goods freely, unimpeded by any bureaucratic restrictions.”