UK car production down a fifth in first half of 2022, says SMMT

Battery electric vehicle production increases by 6.5% during first six months

UK car production declined -19.2% in the first six months of the year, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with 95,792 fewer vehicles built compared with the same period in 2021.

Some 403,131 units were built, representing the weakest first half since the pandemic-ravaged 2020 and worse than 2009 when the global financial crisis decimated demand.

The main cause remains shortages of key components, most notably semiconductors,...