UK vehicle manufacturing up 27% in 2010

By Robert Adungo

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has announced that UK car production rose sharply in 2010, with December registering a ten per cent year-on-year increase.

Some 94,325 vehicles were produced in the country last month as car output rose by 27.1 per cent over the year to 1.27 million units, while commercial vehicles increased by 35.7 per cent to 123,019 units.

Although annual UK engine production increased by 16.2 per cent to 2.39 million units, it slipped by 1.4 per cent in December as commercial vehicle production went up 19.4 per cent in the month.

"UK manufacturers exported more than a million vehicles last year, underlining the competitiveness and desirability of the current model line up," commented SMMT's chief executive Paul Everitt.

"We expect further growth across automotive manufacturing this year as industry continues to invest in new models and a variety of low carbon technologies."

This week the motor industry called on the government to establish an open trade policy in order to stimulate export and private sector-led growth.