(ANSA) - LONDON, JAN 26 - Britain's annual car production fell to its lowest level since 1956, largely due to the global shortage of semiconductor chips, according to industry data released today.
About 775,000 cars were built last year by the country's mostly foreign-owned vehicle makers, down nearly ten percent from 2021, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.
Production in 2022 is down nearly 41% from before the Covid pandemic in 2019, SMMT added.
At the same time, data showed that the UK produced a record number of electric vehicles.
"The main reasons for the decline in production were the crippling global shortage of semiconductors, which limited the ability to build cars in line with demand," the organization said.
Production was also impacted by “significant structural changes, reflecting a loss of production at two key manufacturing sites – and the impact of supply chain pauses in China due to the Covid lockdowns,” SMMT noted.
Japanese auto giant Nissan produced the most vehicles with more than 238,000 units, up 16.5% year on year, followed by Indian-owned Jaguar Land Rover, with almost 203,000 cars, albeit down more than 8% compared to 2021. The Mini, owned by the German BMW group, was the most exported model, followed by the Nissan Qashqai.
Nearly 80% of the vehicles produced last year were made for export, with the largest demand coming from the European Union.
(HANDLE).