According to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car production resumed its downward trend in September, with output falling -3.8% to round off a turbulent first nine months. 122,256 units were built in the month, almost 5,000 fewer than September last year. The latest figures mark a 15-month period of decline for the sector, notwithstanding August when several key plants kept production lines running after moving the traditional annual shutdown period to April to guard against disruption from the original 29 March Brexit date.

In September 2019, production for the UK declined -5.1% as political and economic uncertainty combined to dampen the domestic market. Exports fell -3.4% as cooling demand in key global and European markets affected overseas orders. Output in the year-to-date, meanwhile, is down -15.6%, marking the weakest first three quarters since 2011 and illustrating the impact of the multiple challenges currently facing UK Automotive.

“Another bitterly disappointing month reflects domestic and international market contraction. Most worrying of all though is the continued threat of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, something which has caused international investment to stall and cost UK operations hundreds of millions of pounds, money that would have better been spent in meeting the technological challenges facing the global industry. A general election may ultimately provide some certainty, but does not yet remove the spectre of no deal", Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said.