UK car production rises for the third consecutive month

UK car production rose for the third consecutive month in July, up 8.6% to 58,043 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The performance must be set in a context, however, as it is compared with July 2021, which was the worst July since 1956 as car makers faced multiple issues, including the global shortage of semiconductors and staff absences arising from the ‘pingdemic’ forcing some to alter summer shutdown timings to help manage the challenge.

This July, factories turned out 4,605 additional units, a sign that component shortages may finally be beginning to ease. Output remains -46.4% below pre-pandemic levels, illustrating that full recovery is some way off.1 Production for the UK market surged 40.7% to 11,583 units, with exports also up, but by a more modest 2.8%, partly reflecting the structural and model changes at play.