UK vehicles revving up for growth

By SCOTT REID
Published on 03/07/2012 00:00

Turnover from Britain’s motor manufacturing industry notched up double-digit gains last year, with record output levels expected to be reached by 2015.

Automotive manufacturing turnover for 2011 topped £55 billion – a 12 per cent increase on 2010 – the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said today.

Combined car and commercial vehicle production reached 1.46 million which was a 5.1 per cent rise on the 2010 total.

The SMMT pointed to independent forecasts which suggest that the figure could reach an all-time high of two million vehicles by 2015.

Vehicles made for export were up 14 per cent last year and represented 81.6 per cent of total output and were valued at more than £30bn.

Industry success stories include Jaguar Land Rover, Mini and Nissan.