British automakers are hailing a strong start to the year as the crippling shortage of semiconductors begins to ease
The UK car industry is off to its strongest start to the year in six years as a crippling shortage of semiconductor chips begins to ease.
The number of cars produced rose to 219,887 in the first quarter, 6 percent more than a year ago.
It was the strongest Q1 growth since 2017, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Production last year reached its lowest level since 1956 – a third straight year of decline – but the industry is looking forward to a recovery.
Moving forward: The number of cars produced in the UK rose to 219,887 in the first quarter, up 6% from a year ago. It was the strongest growth in the first quarter since 2017
In March there was a growth of 6.1 percent compared to a year ago, after an increase of 13.1 percent in February.
SMMT leader Mike Hawes said this was cause for optimism, although production is still below pre-pandemic levels.
Britain assembled less than 800,000 cars last year, a dismal figure compared to recent years when it turned out to be over a million.
Hawes said: ‘If UK manufacturing is to get back to those levels, with all the economic benefits that entails, we need to match the best in global competitiveness.’
Exports represent eight out of every ten cars made in the UK and the industry depends on them for growth.