MoversSeek Online Search for Latest News and Hot Trends

 

The number of new cars made in the UK fell 43% in May from the same month a year earlier, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

However the drop, to 67,754 cars, was the smallest of the year. Commercial vehicle production fell 73.5%.

Several firms have temporarily shut factories or cut back production to run down existing supplies after the downturn hit demand for new vehicles.

Impact from the UK "cash for bangers" scheme will take a while to show.

In the first five months of 2009, car production was down 54% at 319,022 compared with the same period last year.

"Prompt action by manufacturers to realign supply with demand has been painful, but was necessary. There is now a direct link between demand in the marketplace and production volumes," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

He added that "low business confidence" continued to blight demand for commercial vehicles - mainly vans and lorries.

"Businesses across the economy are still holding back on new expenditure and will need to see better access to finance and stronger domestic demand."

European influence

Earlier this week, government figures showed that more than 60,000 orders for cars under the UK's scrappage subsidy scheme had been placed since the initiative was announced.

Car buyers are given a £2,000 discount on a new car if they scrap one that is at least 10 years old. Source