UK car output rises 5.7 per cent in November, but lags pre-pandemic levels

British car production rose 5.7 per cent in November from a year earlier, although output levels were still one-fourth lower than pre-pandemic levels, as global chip shortages and supply chain issues continue to hurt, an industry body said on Friday.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 80,091 cars were made in Britain in November, with production growing in six of the past seven months.

“Supply chain shortages, overseas lockdowns and some structural and product changes have combined to throttle output for much of 2022 but there is renewed hope these issues will begin to ease in 2023,” said SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes in a statement.

The production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles rose 18.3 per cent with combined volumes of 29,318 units, representing more than a third of total output in November. The production in this combined segment is up 2.9 per cent in the first 11 months on the same period in 2021.

Domestic production jumped 59.1 per cent to 20,206 units, while exports fell 5 per cent to 59,885 cars.

November’s performance was still down against historic levels, 44.1 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average for the month and 25.7 per cent lower than 2019 figures.