Car production in the United Kingdom increased sharply in May, data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed Thursday.
Overall car production surged 42.2 percent year-on-year to 141,146 units in May, marking the highest output for the month of May since 2004.
Production for the export market grew 45.5 percent annually, while production meant for the domestic market advanced 25.8 percent during the month.
Output of commercial vehicles, meanwhile, decreased 7.4 percent annually to 9,445 units during the month. Manufacturers registered a 13.4 percent growth in the production of engines in May, the agency said.
In the January-May period, car production advanced 17.3 percent from the same period a year earlier, data showed.
"Car manufacturing in May hit the highest level of output since 2004 posting 42.2% growth, a sizable recovery against volumes hampered by last year's Japanese tsunami," SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said. "This boost, coupled with robust year-to-date results demonstrates the strength of UK automotive manufacturing and shows why it continues to attract high levels of international investment."
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