UK car production down 0.7% in June

The number of cars manufactured dipped in June but production was still 14 per cent up in the first half of the year compared with 2011, according to official figures.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said a total of 119,193 cars were manufactured in the UK in June 2012, down 0.7 per cent on the June 2011 figure.

But in the six months to 30 June 2012, there were 756,116 cars produced in the UK, a 14.1 per cent rise on the same period last year.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Despite dipping in June, car production performed strongly during the first half of 2012.

“The £5.8bn investment committed to the UK in the last two years provides long-term growth opportunities, but weakness in European demand may make the next few months a little bumpy.”

SMMT said commercial vehicle production last month was also affected by the Diamond Jubilee bank holidays, dropping 19.7 per cent to 8,367 vehicles. Engine production in June 2012 also fell, down 15.1 per cent to 203,188.