9:26 pm, April 21, 2011
CAR production was up by almost 15 per cent in March reveals the SMMT’s latest automotive manufacturing data.
Total car output rose by 14.8 per cent in March 2011 and was up 13.0 per cent over the year’s first quarter.
Engine production in the UK also increased by 6.5 per cent in the month and by 9.4 per cent in quarter one.
However, in March commercial vehicle output fell by 6.0 per cent and was down 0.8 per cent over the first three months of the year.
‘UK automotive manufacturing demonstrated encouraging growth across the car and engine sectors in March, continuing the strong performance of quarter one,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. ‘The eighth consecutive monthly rise in car output and robust export demand indicate long-term strength and stability in the sector. However, recent announcements from UK-based manufacturers impacted by the Japanese earthquake are likely to see output drop in the short-term.’
