UK car output rose 1.7% to 1,657,558 million units in 2003 while production for export (1,146,592, up 9.4%) reached a record 69.2%. December’s output soared 15.4% to 112,444.
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SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: “The UK is a major player in global car production and today’s figures confirm that. With nine key manufacturers and a strong specialist sports car industry, Britain boasts a wider production base than any other European country. This continued growth is therefore particularly encouraging against a backdrop of falling output across continental Europe.”
December commercial vehicle output was up 27.1% year on year to 17,027 but slipped 1.3% to 188,871 for the full year. Export production in 2003 fell 9.8% to 103,029 though home market output rose 11.4% to 85,842.
“Last year’s weak continental demand blunted the sector’s strong export potential while consistently strong domestic demand helped offset this as plants refocused some of their activities on the UK market. We expect some turnaround in continental exports during 2004 as modest recovery gets firmer and so we think total CV output volume will hold steady in 2004,” Macgowan said.
