A report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK car production in 2022 shrunk to levels not seen since the 1950s.
In 2022, a total of 775,014 cars were built in the country. The figure constitutes a 9.8 per cent decline from the 859,575 made during the previous year.
December rounded off a volatile 12 months, with output down 17.9 per cent year on year, despite the growth that had occurred in October and November.
The annual total for 2022 was 40.5 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels.
The columns for the UK last year were up 9.4 per cent compared with 2021, but this failed to offset a 14 per cent decline in exports, with four out of five UK-built cars shipped overseas, the figures showed.
“These figures reflect just how tough 2022 was for UK car manufacturing," said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT.
The industry body explained these figures are a result of the global chip shortage that has limited the ability...