Date released by the SMMT shows that car manufacturing in the UK rose by 7.5% in September – to 136,051 units – and is up 4.8% over the first nine months of 2011 to 983,247 cars produced.

Commercial vehicle output also rose by 6.2% in September – to 12,046 units – but was down 2.7% over the January-September period at 89,026 units.

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UK engine production rose by 6.6% in September – to 244,270 units – and is up 5.0% over the year-to-date at 1,889,376 units.

“September saw a 7.4% increase in UK vehicle manufacturing, confirming a positive trend we expect to continue into 2012,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive.

“Major new investment by vehicle manufacturers is opening up opportunities for UK-based suppliers, helping to drive the economic recovery and private sector investment.”

The SMMT also highlighted a number of high-profile announcements regarding investment, production expansion, new vehicle models and the safeguarding of employment within the UK’s automotive sector.

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It says these have amounted to the creation of around 7,400 new jobs, the safeguarding of over 12,000 jobs, investments worth over GBP3.9bn either directly in UK automotive or in automotive supply chain activities, nine new vehicle models and long-term announcements to manufacture three next generation vehicle models in the UK. 

The following is a summary of major announcements made during the third quarter:

  • July 2011 – Jaguar Land Rover – The first Range Rover Evoque is driven off the production line at Land Rover’s Halewood manufacturing facility in Liverpool. More than 3,000 new jobs created to manufacture the new model.
  • August 2011 – The Schaeffler Group – Several million euros invested into its engine components manufacturing plant in Llanelli, South Wales. 230 jobs safeguarded. 
  • August 2011 – MIRA – Awarded ‘Enterprise Zone Status’ at its West Midlands development facility, creating over 2,000 jobs over the next 10 years and facilitating global R&D operations from its UK base.
  • August 2011 – MINI announced production of its two millionth MINI at its Oxford plant.
  • September 2011 – Jaguar Land Rover – Announced 336 new graduate recruits will join its training programme to develop technical and engineering expertise for careers in UK automotive.  
  • September 2011 – Nissan announces 25 years of manufacturing at its UK Sunderland plant. Production of the new Qashqai will take Nissan’s total investment in its UK manufacturing base to GBP3.3bn.
  • September 2011 – Jaguar Land Rover – GBP355m investment in new facility in the Midlands to manufacture low emission engines, 750 jobs created.
  • September 2011 – CPP Global Holdings – announces production of the new Jensen sports car, to be designed, developed and built in Coventry.