UK car production rose 9.1% in 2002, to 1,628,020 units, fuelled by a 17.1% jump in exports, or more than 150,000 additional cars, compared to 2001.
December output fell by 8.1% reflecting a slowdown in output for the domestic market.


Commercial vehicle output in December rose 2.8% to 13, 396 units compared to 13,033 in December 2001. The year to date total of 191,315 was 0.8% lower than last year.


Exports rose by 5.7% in December and production for the home market dipped 2.8 per cent.


Total CV production for the last quarter of 2002 was up 15.7% compared to the previous quarter and up 7.8% on the corresponding period a year ago though last year’s total of 191,315 was 0.8% lower than 2001’s 192,873 units.