Production figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that car production in the last three months climbed 9.5%, and that output over the year-to-date slipped 0.3%.

Commenting on the new data, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said, “Changes to plant schedules resulted in a disappointing but temporary dip in new car production. Despite the decline, year-to-date output remains on par with last year's level boosted by a strong third quarter total. We are still expecting full year production to reach 1.65million units”.

In the latest three months, production allocated for exports rose 12.7% when compared with the previous three months, which left it 4.7% higher year-on-year. Car production for the domestic market rose 1.2% in the three months to August, leaving it 2.9% up on the same period a year earlier, while total commercial vehicle production for the three months ending Aug was 4.0% up on the previous three months for a 3.3% year-on-year rise.