Car production in the United Kingdom climbed to a six-year high in 2013 on the back of robust domestic demand and surging exports to countries outside Europe, a report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed Thursday.
Production rose 3.1 percent in 2013 to over 1.5 million units, the highest volume since 2007. Industry analysts predict output to reach record levels of around two million units by 2017, the report noted.
"UK automotive investment announcements exceeded GBP 2.5 billion in 2013, reinforcing industry analysts' suggestions that the UK could break all-time car output records within the next four years," SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said.
"Today's figures are another sign that the British car industry is going from strength to strength - with one vehicle rolling off a production line somewhere in the UK every 20 seconds," Business Secretary Vince Cable said. "This will give businesses the confidence to invest, speed up development on vehicles of the future and keep the UK as a world leader in cars."
Production for home market surged 21.8 percent year-on-year in 2013, while exports declined 0.9 percent.
In December, total car production plunged 15.6 percent compared to the same month of 2012. Production for home market was 11.4 percent less than a year earlier, while that for overseas sales fell 16.8 percent.
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