That British car production has seen better days is perhaps the understatement of the year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is now releasing its August figures. They are not very promising.
In July, 53,438 new passenger cars left the factory gates in the UK, making that month the worst July for the British car industry since 1956. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) now reports that only 37,246 cars were built in August. in the United Kingdom. That is 27 percent less than in the same month last year. According to the auto industry association, the continued decline in sales is related, among other things, to – you guessed it – the global chip shortage.
Of the more than 37,000 cars produced, 29,200 were destined for export markets, just under 33 percent less than in August last year. There is, however, a tiny bright spot. 3.3 percent more cars were built for the domestic market, although with a total of 8,046 units at the bottom of the line, this is an increase of only 255 cars. In particular, fewer cars were shipped to Australia (-75 percent), China (-66 percent) and the United States (-59 percent). Production for the EU countries fell sharply less sharply at 4.9 percent.
The total production counter stands at 589,607 cars after the first eight months of this year. For the time being, that is 13.8 percent more than in the same period of drama year 2020. However, you have to see that in perspective. In the first eight months of 2019, when there was still no proverbial dirt in the air, 32 percent more cars were produced. The SMMT expects that the consequences of the chip shortage will be felt well into 2022.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl