The number of cars built in the UK fell by almost half in April compared with a year ago, according to industry figures. A number of factories, including Honda and Jaguar Land Rover, shut down for part of April to mitigate against the UK's departure from the European Union, which had been set for the end of March. Mainly due to this, just under 71,000 cars rolled off production lines in the month, down by 44.5% from April last year. The "dismal" performance was the 11th consecutive month of decline, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which produced the figures. So far this year, 127,240 fewer cars have been made than during the same period in 2018 - a decline of more than a fifth. Manufacturing for domestic and overseas markets fell by 43.7% and 44.7% respectively in April as many carmakers brought forward and extended stoppages normally scheduled for the summer holidays. The SMMT said that the shutdown was one of a number of "costly and ongoing" measures taken to deal with the uncertainty of Brexit. The industry has also been stockpiling, training for new customs procedures and re-routing logistics. Meanwhile, there is an underlying slowdown in demand from international markets such as the EU, China and the US, as well as at home. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Today's figures are evidence of the vast cost and upheaval Brexit uncertainty has already wrought on UK automotive manufacturing businesses and workers. "Prolonged instability has done untold damage, with the fear of no-deal holding back progress, causing investment to stall, jobs to be lost and undermining our global reputation. "This is why no-deal must be taken off the table immediately and permanently, so industry can get back to the business of delivering for the economy and keeping the UK at the forefront of the global technology race." Rebecca Long Bailey, shadow business secretary, said: "These alarming figures which show output halving are stark warnings of what could come from a hard-right Tory leader crashing the UK out of Europe with no deal. "The UK car industry is being undermined by this incompetent government and its threats of a no-deal." A Department for Business spokesman said: "The government wants to see the UK automotive sector continue to grow and attract further investment. "Through our Modern Industrial Strategy we continue to invest in the future of our automotive industry, including £1bn for research and development into cleaner vehicles, and the Faraday Battery Challenge to develop the next generation of car battery technologies in the UK."
UK car manufacturing in April slumped by 44.5% YoY, with fewer than 71,000 cars produced during the 11th consecutive monthly decline, according to EU and Traders. It said shutdowns by manufacturers, including Honda and Jaguar Land Rover, put in place to deal with the UK's planned withdrawal from the the Society of Motor Manufacturers, originally scheduled for 29 March, were among the "costly and ongoing" measures to deal with Brexit uncertainty.