2011: UK car production was up 5.8%, from 1,270,000 in 2010 to 1,344,000. I was thinking it would be more, but it was and OK result. BMW's building the Countryman in Austria due to capacity restraints in the UK, and Honda reducing sales in Europe had a dampening effect. For the situation in data:
Nissan - Juke, Note & Qashqai : 480,500 / +13.5%
Land Rover - All models : 238,200 / +33%
MINI - MINI : 191,500 / -11.5%
Vauxhall - Astra : 138,000 / +34.4%
Toyota - Auris & Avensis : 128,100 / -6.5%
Honda - Civic 5 Dr, CRV & Jazz : 97,500 / -30%
Jaguar - All models : 50,000 / -11.4%
Bentley - All models : 7,350 / +53%
Others - Various : 12756 / +1%
Total - 1,343,800 +5.8%
2012: Nissan should increase but it must near its upper limits now. Land Rover should have strong growth for the year, especially with the Evoque. Vauxhall has more capacity but it depends on decisions made by GM Opel.
Toyota and especially Honda should increase, but Honda needs to fight back in Europe to really grow. Jaguar may have modest growth, but realistically another model is what will really alter production totals for the leaping cat.
The UK car industry should be dead, the way the country threw it away with inept, short sighted government and management. However, UK car making has been thrown a lifeline. There won't be any more car makers opening up factories in the future, so these car plant operations need to be encouraged to flourish. Signs of that are there.
Pics from top: LR Freelander / Liverpool, Lotus Elise / c. Norwich & Nissan Qashqai / Sunderland.
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