Huge fall in UK car production

THE number of new cars built in the UK last year fell by almost a third to less than a million, the lowest total since 1984, leading to the loss of thousands of jobs.

Production fell by 29.3% compared to the previous year, down to 920,928 units, with similar impacts on the domestic and overseas markets, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Commercial vehicle production fell 15% and the number of engines built slumped by 27%. The SMMT said a fall in car production of 2.3% in December rounded off a “dreadful year”, with auto manufacturers hit by the impact of the coronavirus crisis as well as uncertainty for most of 2020 about a Brexit trade deal.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said job losses last year by carmakers and supply chain firms were around 10,000 and manufacturing was “severely disrupted” with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output, Brexit uncertainty continuing until Christmas Eve and depressed overseas demand.