The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that automotive production fell 11% year-on-year in April. This was due to chip shortages and supply chain problems exacerbated by the crisis in Ukraine.
According to the SMMT, UK production totaled 60,554 units in April, down from 68,306 in April of last year. Electric vehicle production was up 2% year-on-year and accounted for more than a quarter of total production.
Rising energy prices and a slowdown in the global economy have put the UK auto industry under severe pressure. This has also led to many car manufacturers sourcing their parts elsewhere.
The SMMT chief executive said the UK automotive industry was facing a number of problems that threatened productivity and competitiveness and called on the government to ease the burden. The same applies to energy-intensive industries such as steel to mitigate the impact of rising electricity costs.