UK car production decline eases in November

UK car production declined -1.4% on-year in November to 106,243 units, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures. Although a better on-year performance than many other months in 2020, November 2019 output was hampered by precautionary factory shutdowns in anticipation of a potential ‘no deal’ Brexit.

“Many of the factors present throughout much of 2020 conspired to dampen domestic orders, not least a second national lockdown in England and subsequent economic and political turbulence,” SMMT says in a note seen by Kallanish.

Export volumes inched up 0.3%, boosted by shipments to key markets in the EU, Asia and the US.

In January-November UK car output fell -31% on-year to 849,246 units. This puts the industry on course to produce fewer than 1 million cars this year for only the second time since the early 1980s.