U.K. Car, Engine H1 Production Up; CV Output Slips

U.K. car production rose 14.1% to 756,116 units in the year’s first half, despite easing 0.7% in June.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders also reports commercial-vehicle output fell 8.7% to 56,096 units during the first half after a 19.7% dip in June.

Engine production showed a 0.5% uptick to 1,336,279 units over the first six months despite a 15.1% dive in June.

“The £5.8 billion ($9.1 billion) investment committed to U.K. in the last two years provides long-term growth opportunities, but weakness in European demand may make the next few months a little bumpy,” SMMT CEO Paul Everitt says in a statement releasing the latest data.

Car production in June totaled 119,193 units, of which 87,110 were exported. Some 81.5% of first-half car builds, or 625,314 units, went to export markets.

CV output in June was 8,367 units, including 5,251 exports accounting for 62.6% of the production. The 34,188 exported vehicles represented 60.9% of first-half CV builds.

Engine production in June reached 203,188 units with 125,321 shipped overseas. For the year’s first half, the industry exported 852,002 units for 63.8% of total output.