UK car production down four per cent in October

According to the SMMT, 134,752 units rolled off production lines in October 2019, which was 5,622 fewer models than October 2018. That four per cent decline feeds into a year-to-date drop of 14.4 per cent, with automotive production declining in 16 of the last 17 months.

SMMT counts cost of ‘no deal’ threat

SMMT launches car industry Brexit aid package

“Yet another month of falling car production makes these extremely worrying times for the sector,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. “Our global competitiveness is under threat, and to safeguard it we need to work closely with the next government to ensure frictionless trade, free of tariffs, with regulatory alignment and continued access to talent in the future.

“This sector is export led, already shipping cars to more than 160 countries, and in a period of unprecedented change a close trading relationship with the EU and preferential trading with all these other markets will be essential to keep automotive in Britain.”