Yearly number of cars produced in the UK 2003-2021

The United Kingdom produced roughly 860,000 passenger cars in 2021. This marked the most noticeable slump since 2009 and the fourth year when figures had declined. Compared to 2020, production decreased by nearly seven percent in 2021.

UK production continues to trend down amid crises

The United Kingdom’s automotive industry has been struggling following the Brexit referendum and was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The United Kingdom was once the largest exporter of cars, and its long-standing brands still enjoy success worldwide. The UK domestic market, however, has been faring slightly worse than production for overseas. New passenger car registrations in the United Kingdom were down year-on-year for most of 2021.

UK auto industry loses ground

In 2020, the United Kingdom ranked 13th in a list of leading car producers worldwide, falling behind Mexico. In 2020, China was the world’s leading manufacturer of such motor vehicles. The country produced a staggering 21 million units.