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UK car production plummeted 47.5 per cent to 53,823 cars in December as car makers acted to match supply with falling demand.
For the full year car production was down 5.7 per cent to 1,446,619 vehicles, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Production of cars in the final quarter fell 33.8 per cent.
Production of commercial vehicles fared worse, down 56.7 per cent in December and 5.8 per cent for the full year.
Overall, production of cars and commercial vehicles was on a par with 2006 levels for the full year. The SMMT said further declines were due.
“UK vehicle production figures for 2008 demonstrate both the strength of the sector and the very dramatic fall in demand in the last quarter,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.
The SMMT said 75 per cent of production went to export and it wanted the government to help sustain production in a difficult market.
“SMMT has been in close discussion with UK government on the urgent need to improve access to credit and kick-start demand in the market, in order to sustain valuable industrial capability during this exceptionally difficult period.
“SMMT is looking forward to meeting with Lord Mandelson before the end of January to receive government’s response to the proposals we submitted at our November meeting,” he added.