British car exports are up 6%

BRITISH car exports rose by 6 per cent last month as the UK spread its trading wings in the run up to Brexit, figures reveal today.

A total of 113,150 UK-built cars destined for global markets were produced at a rate of nearly 4,000 a day in June, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

The industry body also released figures showing that in first six months of the year, 834,400 cars were built in Britain, of which 675,190 (80 per cent) were exported.

Exports to the US – Britain’s second largest market – rose by 1.5 per cent to 108,300 vehicles from January to the end of June. Those to Japan were up 77 per cent and South Korea 68 per cent.

By contrast, exports to the European mainland fell by 4 per cent, although the EU remained Britain’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 360,270 vehicles over the six months – or just over half of all cars produced for export.

Motor industry bosses said ‘strong exports’ helped counter ‘disappointing domestic demand’, as car manufacturing overall fell by 3 per cent in the first half of the year. The SMMT reiterated calls for Brexit negotiators on both sides to back free and frictionless trade.

Chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘The Government’s latest Brexit proposals are a step in the right direction to safeguard future growth, jobs and consumer choice, not just in Britain but right across Europe.

‘We now look to negotiators on both sides to recognise the needs of the whole European automotive industry which, combined, employs more than 12million people. Any disruption risks undermining one of our most valuable shared economic assets.’