UK vehicle production declined 18.8% to 128,000 units in April

On May 25, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced that the number of UK car production for April decreased 18.8% over the previous year to 128,248 units. Passenger car production was down 18.2% to 122,116 units and commercial vehicle production was down 28.3% to 6,132 units year over year(y/y). Also, production of engines was down by 14.5% to 198,090 units.
Exports fell 18.1% (y/y) to 103,381 units and domestic sales declined 21.4% (y/y) to 24,867 units. The percentage of export was 80.6%.
In the first quarter of 2017, total vehicle production increased 0.6% (y/y) to 623,379 units. The passenger car production was up 1.0% to 593,796 units, commercial vehicle was down 8.1% to 29,583 units and engines were up 4.7% to 942,238 units.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT said "Car production fell significantly in April due to the later Easter bank holiday weekend which reduced the number of active production days that month and also due to unplanned production adjustments. Overall, British car manufacturing remains in good health with the production outlook still very positive, however, we need the next government to safeguard the conditions that have made us globally competitive, keeping us open and trading and delivering an ambitious industrial strategy for our sector."
(SMMT press release from May 25, 2017)1/2/3