According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the production of alternative drive cars in the UK hit record levels last month.
More than a quarter (26.0%) of all cars made in July were either battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV) or hybrid electric (HEV), their highest percentage ever, meaning UK car factories 126,757 of these have failed since the beginning of the year.
Overall, however, UK auto production declined 37.6% in July, the first drop since February with just 53,438 units made.
It was the worst July performance since 1956, when manufacturers struggled with the global shortage of semiconductors and the shortage of staff due to the “pingdemie”.
In July, production for the UK market fell 38.7% to 8,233, while production for export also fell 37.4%, with 45,205 cars shipped overseas. More than eight out of ten (84.6%) vehicles built this month were exported.
Total production remains up 18.3% from the 2020 Covid hit to 552,361 units, but this is well (-28.7%) below the pre-2019 pandemic level when 774,760 cars were produced.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, said: “These figures show the extremely difficult conditions that UK automakers continue to face. While the impact of the “pingdemic” will diminish as the self-isolation rules change, the global shortage of semiconductors shows little sign of subsiding.
“The UK automotive industry is doing everything in its power to keep production lines running, which demonstrates the adaptability of its workforce and manufacturing processes and business rates for a sector strategically important to deliver net zero.”
