An inevitable decline?

UK car production fell 47.5 per cent in December with total output for 2008 down 5.7 per cent, according to latest figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (

).

Commercial vehicle production took the biggest hit after December production fell 56.7 per cent to 6,290 vehicles, while the total for the year was down by 5.9 per cent to 202,896 vehicles.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, said: ‘UK vehicle production figures for 2008 demonstrate both the strength of the sector and the very dramatic fall in demand in the last quarter.’

The sharp drop in December output reflected the closure of plants over the Christmas period, with Aston Martin, Bentley, GM Motors, Honda and Mini among the manufacturers who extended their Christmas shutdown.

The collapse in global sales has hit the industry hard and the SMMT's announcement has placed additional pressure on the government to bring in measures that will help the troubled automotive industry recover from the economic downturn.