UK – The number of units produced increased to 791,314, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Output for June was 136,419 units, an increase of 3.7% compared with the same period the year before.
The SMMT said the increase in volumes last month was driven by 16.5% growth in production for the domestic market, which rose from 26,212 to 30,532 units. The year-to-date figure was 165,855, an increase of 1.9%. Export production for the month remained stable, at 105,887 units (+0.5%). Year-to-date, manufacturing for export was up by 4% to 625,459 units.
“With several manufacturers having started assembly of new models this year and billions of pounds of investment still to reach production fruition, this is an exciting time for the UK automotive sector,” commented Mike Hawes, CEO at the SMMT. “However, with this growth comes a need to bolster the domestic supply chain and address major skills shortages.”