UK car production plummets 30.1pc in November
UK car manufacturing fell 30.1% last month to the worst November performance since 1980, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
British factories produced 64,216 cars last month, a 30% year-on-year drop and a ninth consecutive monthly decline.
Output for both domestic and markets fell 56.7% and 21.3% respectively, while output year-to-date was down 12.9% to 734,562 units. 19,165 battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric cars were made in the month, representing 29.8% of total output.
November's drop comes hot on the heels of the government's review of its electric car mandate - a system of financial penalties levied against car makers if zero-emission vehicles make up less than 22% of all sales. The mandate will eventually rise to 80% of sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "These figures offer little Christmas cheer for the sector. While a decline was to be expected given the extensive changes underway at many plants, manufacturing is under pressure at home and abroad, with billions of pounds committed to new technologies, new models and new production tooling. Government can help by supporting consumers in the transition, fast-tracking its Industrial Strategy for advanced manufacturing and, most urgently, reviewing the market regulation which is putting enormous strain on the sector."
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com