UK car production down 30.9 per cent

CAR production in the UK slumped in 2009, driven down by the depressed state of the motor market in the early part of the year, figures yesterday confirmed.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Jan 2010, 20:30 BST

Updated 22nd Jan 2010, 20:40 BST

Despite excellent December 2009 results, the number of cars produced last year was 30.9 per cent down on the 2008 figure.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed a total of 999,460 cars were manufactured in the UK last year. Commercial vehicle production totalled 90,679 – a 55.3 per cent drop on 2008. The SMMT said: "We expect the year ahead to be extremely challenging."