UK Car Production Down: But is it all about Brexit?
I receive a lot of messages in my growing email inbox.
I also get a lot of email every fiscal quarter from automakers screaming from the rooftops that the last three months have been their best, but in terms of sales and profits;
Troubled stats
Figures released recently show that UK car production declined again in March, with demand down -13.3% yoy as the domestic market continues to slow.
Overall, production fell by -6.3% in the first quarter of 2018, with 440,426 vehicles on production lines this year.
UK car and component manufacturers are important contributors to the UK economy and are responsible for 13% of the country's merchandise exports.
According to the industry, “The double-digit decline in vehicle production in both domestic and overseas markets is a major concern.
Enough;
In this September 2014 photo, newly built Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are waiting to be delivered.
big picture
Further on the page, I put an asterisk against two words.
However, I think that's the whole picture.
The transparent Volkswagen factory or "Die Gläserne Manufaktur" in Dresden, Germany, is the Mobility Center of the future automaker.
public purse
Diesel vehicle sales have been hit hard by unfavorable and rather unfair publicity, but sales of petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles have not risen to the same extent as would seem reasonable.
Running a car here is expensive.
Tide change
From what I do (when I'm not scrolling through the lists of the young girls who most desire my company), I hear the message: cars are getting boring.
The most boring aspect of all are autonomous cars.
Wherever you place the blame;
Geoff Masted is a writer, photographer and author of our Letter from the UK series.
Cover Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.