UK engine production down 99.5% in April
Just 830 engines were produced in the UK in April, down from 178,022 in 2019, representing a precipitous 99.5% output decline, according to the latest figures from the SMMT, as the COVID-19 lockdown’s impact on car production continues to be felt.
A small number was produced at the end of the month, ahead of some automotive plants restarting in May.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes commented: “The nationwide lockdown and closure of vehicle manufacturing plants across Europe and beyond has had an expected but devastating effect on engine production, with output all but wiped out in April. With markets and key factories starting to reopen, it’s crucial to encourage demand for new cars worldwide, which will in turn drive manufacturing and help reboot the UK economy.”
