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UK car manufacturing hits six year high!
23rd January 2014
- Car production rose 3.1% in 2013 to surpass 1.5 million units – the highest volume since 2007.
- Industry analysts predict output to reach record levels of around two million units by 2017.
- UK could become the third largest car manufacturer in Europe.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “2013 demonstrated the value of the UK’s diverse car manufacturing industry, as surging home demand and robust exports outside Europe saw output grow 3.1% to over 1.5 million units. UK automotive investment announcements exceeded £2.5 billion in 2013, reinforcing industry analysts’ suggestions that the UK could break all-time car output records within the next four years.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable said, “Today’s figures are another sign that the British car industry is going from strength to strength – with one vehicle rolling off a production line somewhere in the UK every 20 seconds.
“Our success lies in the appetite from countries around the world for British cars. Around 80% of the 1.5 million cars we produced last year were exported – a testament to the diverse, high quality of British manufacturing.
“It also highlights the benefits of industry and government working together and we want to continue this partnership through a long-term strategy. This will give businesses the confidence to invest, speed up development on vehicles of the future and keep the UK as a world leader in cars. Our investment of £1bn jointly with industry will help do this, while also delivering jobs and driving growth.”