First quarter 2006 UK car production down; CV production up

Total car production for the year to March fell by 5.5 per cent to 409,1000 units, compared to the same period last year.

Production for the home market decreased by 20.4 per cent to 107,800, while export production rose by 1.3 per cent to 387,900.

Total commercial vehicle production for the first quarter rose by 4.2 per cent year on year to 57,700 units. CV production allocated for the home market fell by 6.7 per cent, while export production rose by 11.0 per cent.

The Office for National Statistics reports that using its quarter-on-quarter seasonal adjustment calculation, in the three months to March 2006 total car production, seasonally adjusted, fell by 2.0 per cent compared with the previous three months. Production for the home market increased by 2.6 per cent, while production allocated for the export market fell by 3.4 per cent.

Compared with the same three months a year ago, total car production, seasonally adjusted, fell by 10.2 per cent. Production allocated for the home market decreased by 21.1 per cent, while production for the export market fell by 5.8 per cent.

Total commercial vehicle production, seasonally adjusted, for the three months ending March 2006 rose by 7.4 per cent compared with the previous three months and by 3.3 per cent compared with the same period a year ago.