Worst November of 1984! UK car production fell for the fifth consecutive month

【Smart Car Pie News】Because of the epidemic, the production of automobiles in many countries around the world has been affected. The latest SMMT data shows that November was the fifth consecutive month of decline in UK car production, with only 75,756 cars shipped out of the factory, down 28.7% year-on-year, the worst November since 1984. SMMT made it clear that the closure of Honda's Swindon plant in July had a lasting impact.

Production in the UK domestic market fell by 18.8 per cent, with exports taking the hardest hit, down 30.4 per cent year-on-year. A total of about 30,487 vehicles were produced in November compared to the same period last year. Exports account for more than 80 percent of all cars produced, which SMMT said shows that "smooth international trade is very important, especially with the EU, as the EU's new customs controls will come into force on 1 January 2022".

So far this year, UK factories have produced 797261 new cars, 432794 fewer than the 2019 figure and 667441 fewer than the five-year average before the pandemic.

SMMT sees the continued semiconductor shortage as a major factor in the sluggish automotive production. CEO Mike Hoth called the numbers "extremely worrying" and said the global supply chain crisis "could affect the industry as a whole next year." He added: "With an increasingly unfavourable economic backdrop, rising inflation and a resurgence of covid-19 at home and abroad, the situation is the toughest in decades. Output has fallen sharply over the past five months and is likely to continue, thereby maintaining cash flow, especially in the supply chain, which is critical.

"The industry is well prepared to implement full customs controls at the UK border from 1 January, but any delays due to inadequate shipment or system preparation will put further pressure on businesses operating 'just in time'." If any problems arise, immediate contingency measures must be taken to keep cross-border trade running smoothly. ”