• UK manufacturers built 91,282 cars in August, up 12,705 units on 2012.
• Third successive monthly gain pushes year-to-date volumes up 3.1% to 984,545 units.
• Month is typically the year’s smallest volume, due to summer/retooling breaks in production.
• Domestic demand fuelled total increase, but export allocation also rose in August.

“UK car manufacturing is continuing to grow with global automotive brands building on UK-based design, R&D and engineering expertise to produce some of the world’s most dynamic, dependable and desirable vehicles,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “Despite August typically being one of the year’s quietest months due to summer breaks, the past 12 months has been the most productive since late 2008.”

Weak EU demand and domestic restructuring continues CV manufacturing decline in August

• Commercial vehicle (CV) output continued to fall in August, down 51.1% to 3,694 units.
• Year-to-date output down 16.6% in the first eight months of 2013 to 60,646 units.
• Output expected to remain subdued throughout 2013.

“Focused almost entirely on the European market, UK commercial vehicle manufacturing has been impacted by ongoing uncertainly in Eurozone countries, model changes and restructuring of some domestic operations,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “We expect overall commercial vehicle output to remain negative through the rest of the year, but some sectors may fare better with recent increases in demand for UK-built trucks and buses.”

Year’s robust engine output overcomes weak August

• UK engine manufacturing remained stable over the first eight months of 2013, up 0.3%.
• Typically subdued August volumes saw output down 16.4% in the month to 124,614 units.
• In both month and year-to-date production for home market improved, while exports declined.