May U.K. Car Output Up 42.2%; Engine Builds Grow 13.4%

U.K. car production surged 42.2% in May to 141,146 units for the month’s highest output since 2004.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says light-commercial-vehicle production fell 7.4% to 9,445 units. Engine builds jumped 13.4% to 242,937 units.

SMMT CEO Paul Everitt says last month’s growth was measured against year-ago volumes hampered by Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disaster.

“This boost, coupled with robust year-to-date results, demonstrates the strength of U.K. automotive manufacturing and shows why it continues to attract high levels of international investment,” Everitt says in a statement.

Year-to-date car production was up 17.3% to 636,923 units, while CV output is off 6.4% to 47,729. Engine builds reached a 5-month total of 1,133,091, up 4%.

Exports accounted for 85.1% of May’s car production, jumping 45.5% to 120,120 units for a 5-month total up 16.6% to 528,204.

Some 61.7% of last month’s CV builds were exported for the month and saw a 0.6% uptick to 5,830 units. Year-to-date, CV exports were down 7.4% to 28,937 while accounting for 60.6% of production.

Manufacturers exported 62.0% of May’s engine production, with volume slipping 6.9% to 150,550 units. After five months, engine exports declined 9.0% to 726,681 units while taking a 64.1% share of total output.