Car production up 42.2%

UK car manufacturing in May hit its highest levels for eight years according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

A total of 141,146 cars were bolted together at various plants in the UK including Nissan in Sunderland, Jaguar Land Rover at Halewood, Solihull and Castle Bromwich, Mini in Cowley and Honda in Swindon.

The output is 42.2% higher than the same time last year when much production was thrown into chaos by the tsunami in Japan. Year to date figures are also up by 17.3% to 636,923.

At 108,719, just over one in five of cars built in this country stay in the UK and could find their way into the aftermarket for service and/or repair.