U.K. Car Manufacturing Suffers Eighth Consecutive Month of Decline

The number of cars built in the UK fell significantly in January, with an 18.2 per cent decline in production. Cars built for the export market bore the brunt of that drop, with 21.4 per cent fewer UK-made cars going to foreign homes.

January’s sharp drop in productivity represents the eighth consecutive month in which manufacturing contracted, with the industry branding the continued falls a “serious concern”.

Some 120,649 cars rolled off the production line last month, compared with 147,507 in January last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

In terms of specific markets, demand from China and EU27 countries fell 72.3 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

The number of UK-made cars going to UK homes saw a drop of 4.8 per cent, from 28,234 to 26,868, with political uncertainty over Brexit being blamed for further damage to consumer confidence.

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