UK car manufacturers call for Brexit deal as sales continue to decline
29/08/2019
This was the 14th successive month of decline as ongoing weakness in major EU and Asian markets coupled with some key model changes affected performance.
Production for export fell 14.6% in the month, although overseas demand remained the main driver of overall volumes, accounting for eight in 10 cars built. Meanwhile, output for the domestic market rose by 10.2%, or just fewer than 2,000 units, following a steep 35.1% fall in July last year, when multiple factors affected output.
In the year-to-date, some 774,760 cars have been made in Britain, 180,864 fewer than in the same time last year and representing a fall of -18.9%.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Another month of decline for UK car manufacturing is a serious concern. The sector is overwhelmingly reliant on exports and the global headwinds are strong, with escalating trade tensions, softening demand and significant technological change.
“With the UK market also weak, the importance of maintaining the UK’s global competitiveness has never been more important so we need a Brexit deal – and quickly – to unlock investment and safeguard the long term future of a sector which has recently been such an international success story.”
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