Last year saw a 17-year high in the number of cars built in the
UK, official SMMT records
have revealed. In 2016, 1.7 million cars came off the production
line, up 8.5% on the year before.
Demand from overseas has helped to drive this increase with more
than 1.3 million cars destined for export to over 160 countries.
The manufacture of premium brands has helped make the UK the
second biggest producer of premium cars after Germany.
With a car rolling off the production line every 20 seconds, and
with over 163,000 people employed in the industry, the UK auto
sector has seen a real revival.
Business Secretary welcomed the news:
Our modern industrial
strategy will make the UK one of the most competitive
places in the world to grow a business and these figures show
why the UK automotive sector has such a vital role to play as
we build on our strengths and extend excellence into the
future. We are providing long-term investment and support, so
that all our auto companies, and the vital supply chain it
supports, can strive for even greater success in 2017.
Government is continuing to back the UK auto sector. That is why,
on top of the £1 billion government and industry has committed to
research and development, a further £390 million, announced
at Autumn Statement, will
be invested to develop and accelerate the transition to cleaner,
connected and autonomous vehicles, strengthening the UK’s
position as a leader in this vital sector.
Alongside this, the Automotive Investment
Organisation, created in 2013, has already helped create or
safeguard 20,000 jobs in the UK automotive supply chain and
secured £1.5 billion in new capital investment.
