This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8063055.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Car production down 55% in April | Car production down 55% in April |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| UK car production fell 55.3% in April compared with a year earlier, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). | UK car production fell 55.3% in April compared with a year earlier, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). |
| A total of 68,258 cars were made in April, with the total for the year to date about 251,268 cars. | A total of 68,258 cars were made in April, with the total for the year to date about 251,268 cars. |
| In April, 56,267 cars were exported, a drop of 53.4% compared with April 2008. | In April, 56,267 cars were exported, a drop of 53.4% compared with April 2008. |
| Overall vehicle production - including commercial vehicles - fell 56.5% to 75, 913 in April. Carmakers are cutting production as the recession takes hold. | Overall vehicle production - including commercial vehicles - fell 56.5% to 75, 913 in April. Carmakers are cutting production as the recession takes hold. |
| Commercial vehicle production fell by 65.2% to 7,655 in April, with the year-to-date production down 63.6% at 29,950 vehicles. | Commercial vehicle production fell by 65.2% to 7,655 in April, with the year-to-date production down 63.6% at 29,950 vehicles. |
| More cars were made in April than in March, when the UK produced 61,829 cars, a 51.3% drop on March 2008. | |
| The car sector has been one of the hardest hit by the global slowdown, as consumers cut back on big-ticket purchases, forcing global car companies to cut production and staffing levels. | The car sector has been one of the hardest hit by the global slowdown, as consumers cut back on big-ticket purchases, forcing global car companies to cut production and staffing levels. |
| Slow recovery | Slow recovery |
| Under a new government scheme, cars that are more than 10 years old can be scrapped in return for a £2,000 discount on a new model. | Under a new government scheme, cars that are more than 10 years old can be scrapped in return for a £2,000 discount on a new model. |
| The scrappage scheme should boost sales, an SMMT spokeswoman told BBC News. | The scrappage scheme should boost sales, an SMMT spokeswoman told BBC News. |
| But it will take a few months for this rising demand to feed through into greater production. | But it will take a few months for this rising demand to feed through into greater production. |
| "There are some signs that production is beginning to pick up. We are starting to see some good signs, but it is going to be a protracted recovery on the production side," she said. | "There are some signs that production is beginning to pick up. We are starting to see some good signs, but it is going to be a protracted recovery on the production side," she said. |
| "We will start to see a pick-up towards end of summer, beginning of autumn. It will be some time before we regain the numbers that we were seeing towards the middle of last year," she added. | "We will start to see a pick-up towards end of summer, beginning of autumn. It will be some time before we regain the numbers that we were seeing towards the middle of last year," she added. |
| Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: "Despite the current difficulties, the UK must prepare for the return of global growth and government support for the industry is an essential part of the process." | Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: "Despite the current difficulties, the UK must prepare for the return of global growth and government support for the industry is an essential part of the process." |