British car factories have defied the global trend by reporting a sixth consecutive month of rising production. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car manufacturing increased by 14.6 percent in February, reaching 79,907 vehicles. This positive performance extends the trend of growth seen over the past six months, marking the best start to the year since 2021.
The ongoing growth in production reflects a recovery from the significant slowdown experienced during the supply chain disruptions of the pandemic, which led to production levels dropping to their lowest since the 1950s. This achievement is noteworthy as it contrasts with the generally flat or declining production reported in other parts of the world, particularly due to weakening demand for electric vehicles, a segment that had previously shown substantial growth.
However, the SMMT cautioned that the UK's recovery might face challenges in the coming months as major manufacturers phase out production of some long-standing models and transition to building new electric variants. For instance, Nissan in Sunderland, Solihull (which produces Jaguars and Range Rovers), and the Mini factory in Oxford owned by BMW are undergoing transitions towards electrification.