The variety of automobiles constructed within the first three months of the yr rose by 6 per cent, however the total quantity of automobiles produced stays decrease than earlier than the pandemic.

Manufacturing totalled 219,887, in response to figures printed by the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants.

The commerce group stated that the worldwide scarcity of semiconductors which choked off manufacturing final yr had began to ease, enabling factories to provide 12,540 extra automobiles than a yr earlier. Exports elevated by 6.6 per cent and represented virtually eight in ten automobiles made.

About two thirds of exported automobiles went to the European Union, with shipments growing by 4.9 per cent, whereas these to the following greatest markets, the USA and China, fell by 4.1 per cent and eight.3 per cent respectively.

The society stated that mixed volumes of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electrical automobiles rose by 75 per cent final month, in contrast with a yr earlier, to 32,546. Two in 5 automobiles constructed final month featured ultra-low or zero-emission powertrain know-how. This development was set to proceed with greater than 20 fashions of electrical automobiles, vans, buses, vans and taxis anticipated to be in manufacturing within the UK by subsequent yr.

Mike Hawes, chief government, stated: “A second consecutive month of development for UK automotive manufacturing offers trigger for optimism, although volumes are nonetheless effectively under pre-pandemic ranges.”

Richard Peberdy, at KPMG, stated: “Huge questions nonetheless stay unanswered about how the UK will produce electrical automobiles at a lot bigger scale.”