UK Car Production Numbers Collapse

The number of new cars made in the UK has collapsed to its lowest amount since 1956.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures show 775,014 cars were produced last year, down from pre-Covid pandemic figures of 1.3 million vehicles.

Factory closures, a struggle to get parts due to covid restrictions and a semiconductor shortage have all contributed to the struggle.

Although manufacturers hope the car industry will accelerate once again, they want to see government help in that growth with investment and support attracting car makers to the UK market.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said on BBC’s Today programme that the UK needed “something that demonstrates that the UK is open for business and open for these investments.

“We need to be on the front foot making sure we have a range of measures that attract investment.”

Annual new car manufacturing numbers in the UK had been steadily rising between 2012 and 2016, but has fallen every year since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016.

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