UK car production falls to second worst April since 1952

Car manufacturing in the UK fell by 8.6% on year in April to its lowest level for that month since 1952, other than the Covid-19 lockdown year of 2020, industry figures showed on Thursday.

A later Easter and model changeovers contributed to the fall in car production, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders. Reduced demand from key export markets also hurt output, SMMT said, as international trading uncertainty resulted in a 10% fall in car exports from the UK.

The industry group said April’s decline contributed to the UK auto sector’s slowest start to a year since 2009.

Commercial vehicle production fared even worse, falling by 69%, with exports dropping by 76%, SMMT said.

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