The state of UK car manufacturing

The UK car industry certainly isn’t as illustrious as it used to be. But despite owning few manufacturing companies anymore, there are a large number of vehicles still produced within the country's borders - albeit for foreign-owned manufacturers such as Toyota. As Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures illustrate, the industry recovered strongly from the financial crisis to post record production figures in 2016. Now though, manufacturing is starting to dip, with the uncertainty and disruption arising from Brexit starting to make their presence felt.

Last year, there were 3% fewer passenger cars made than in 2016 and so far in 2018 the number of vehicles rolling off the production lines is also down by 2.3 percent year-on-year. Underlining the threat to the industry posed by Brexit and speaking about his company’s recent pledge to build the new Auris hatchback in its Derbyshire plant, Johan van Zyl, Toyota’s European president, warned: “We have been here for 25 years. We are a long-term investor…but if the environment – not just for the UK but in general – is not conducive for doing business, we will not invest.” Indeed, the loss of foreign investment would be devastating for an industry which has grown so critically reliant upon it.

This chart was also featured in an article on inews.co.uk.