Engine production down a third

Engine production fell 36.3% in September, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Its figures found that UK factories produced 138,059 engines last month, with output for both domestic and export markets falling by 42% and 32.6% respectively.

Year-to-date engine manufacturing has fallen 2.8% to 1,278,117 units compared to 2020 and remains 33.9% below the five-year average.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “During September the number of engines produced declined by over a third, continuing this worrying trend for the fourth consecutive month. The global shortage of semiconductors continues to stall the production of engines as well as finished vehicles, with the situation unlikely to ease until 2022. Despite yesterday’s budget offering some welcome news for the industry, it represented a missed opportunity to offer much needed short-term support in light of pandemic related supply constraints such as semiconductors.”

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