Although its output – of Juke, Note, Qashqai and Leaf models – dipped 1.7% year on year in 2013, Nissan’s Sunderland plant in north east England once again dominated UK car production, building 501,756 of the 1,509,762 cars (up 3.1%) made here. That was the highest volume since 2007, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
A plant spokesman said the dip was due to an extended Easter break, the introduction of three new models (redesigned Note, European-specification Leaf, redesigned Qashqai) and associated plant modifications such as modifying the Qashqai line to add the Leaf.
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Tata Motors’ Land Rover was second largest producer last year as combined output of the Evoque and Freelander at Halewood and the Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, and Range Rover Sport at Solihull rose 11.4% to 340,349 vehicles.
Output of Auris and Avensis at Toyota’s Burnaston plant near Derby plant soared 63.8% to 179,233 units on strong European demand for the redesigned Auris and a new Tourer (wagon) version also offered as a hybrid.
Ahead of the start of production of a redesigned model line due to be launched worldwide this year, BMW’s Mini production at Oxford fell 15.7% to 174,997 units in 2013, the final full year for the second generation hatchback models.
Honda production of and updated Civic line with new diesel variants, a redesigned CR-V with a new diesel and the outgoing Jazz in its swansong year fell 16.2% to 138,812 cars.
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By GlobalDataOn the other hand, Tata’s Jaguar boosted output at Castle Bromwich near Birmingham 40.5% to 78,566 cars due to strong demand for the new F-type, and additional variants of the XF, XJ and XK.
At Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool, GM’s Astra plant built 73,466 Astra hatchback and Sports Tourer (wagon) units, down 18.5%.
Of the 1.5m plus total, 1,201,395 or 79.6% were exported compared with 82.7% (1,211,766) in 2012.
December output was down 15.9% to 85,566 units with just over 82% exported.
Phil Harrold, automotive partner, PwC, said: “A number of people may link the rise in car production to the rise in new vehicle registrations reported earlier this month, but this is a false link.
“The UK car industry is export-led and success at the moment is largely due to exporting to certain key markets. Premium or niche vehicles have strong overseas appeal and these make up the majority of UK vehicle production: Jaguar Land Rover manufactures approximately 425,000 units annually, Mini almost 200,000 and Nissan almost 250,000. The current uplift is reliant on recovering or existing strong markets and the continuing trend relies on growth in the US and China.
“In contrast to the premium vehicles being exported, the UK and European market largely demands compact vehicles. Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Vauxhall are the main players here. European demand is depressed and shows no sign of increasing over the next two years. The exception to this is manufacturers developing high-end technical niche products, for example the Toyota Auris. Future success for the UK and European markets lies in technology and materials innovation, for example aluminium and hybrid vehicles.”
Industry analysts predict output will reach a record 2m units by 2017 which would make the UK the third largest car manufacturer in Europe.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “2013 demonstrated the value of the UK’s diverse car manufacturing industry, as surging home demand and robust exports outside Europe saw output grow. UK automotive investment announcements exceeded GBP2.5bn in 2013, reinforcing industry analysts’ suggestions that the UK could break all time car output records within the next four years.”
The record was set in 1972 when 1.92m cars were made here.
