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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Sharp fall in UK car production | Sharp fall in UK car production |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| New car production in the UK fell dramatically in January from a year earlier, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). | New car production in the UK fell dramatically in January from a year earlier, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). |
| A total of 61,404 news cars were produced last month, 58.7% lower than January 2008, as plants closed for extended winter shutdowns. | |
| Car firms have been hit by falling demand amid a wider economic slowdown. | Car firms have been hit by falling demand amid a wider economic slowdown. |
| The SMMT said that the decline in vehicle output highlighted the need for more measures to help the industry. | |
| SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said that production for overseas markets, particularly Europe, had weathered the downturn better than production for the domestic market. | |
| "European markets have been lifted by scrappage incentive schemes," he said. | |
| "SMMT continues its call for a UK plan to boost the new vehicle market and support employment throughout the sector," he added. | |
| A total of 51,272 new cars were made for export, down 54.2% from January last year. Domestic car production fell 72.3% to 10,132 vehicles. | |
| Several car firms have had to cut jobs and reduce workers' hours in response to slowing demand. | |
| Ford has said up to 850 UK workers at the firm would be offered voluntary redundancy packages. | |
| And workers at Vauxhall car plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton are taking a cut in pay after agreement was reached to cut their working hours. |