Currently reading: Scrappage 'failing UK makers'
Buyers aren't opting for British-built cars

Scrappage isn't helping UK-based car manufacturers, according to the latest production figures.

While British new car sales rose 31.6 per cent year-on-year to 168,942 in October, UK-based car production fell 6.7 per cent, according to new Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures.

For the year to date, car production was 38.1 per cent lower than a year ago. However, the October decline was the smallest monthly drop this year.

Paul Everitt, SMMT CEO, said: "The scrappage scheme and early signs of recovery in global markets offer some encouragement to UK vehicle producers, but 2010 is expected to be another difficult year for the industry."

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phildub 21 November 2009

Re: Scrappage 'failing UK makers'

I do agree with the story though.

The majority of sales went to cars built abroad, perhaps a little extra discount for cars built in this country would of helped

However i cant help but feel it was implimented in panic without research as to what it could do to the used market, i am biased though because alot of cars going for scrap where cars i would love to own myself :(

disco.stu 20 November 2009

Re: Scrappage 'failing UK makers'

I would be interested to see a more-detailed breakdown of those numbers, as simply pointing the finger at the scrappage scheme strikes me as somewhat disingenuous. Not surprising production is down when factories were closed for long periods of time - how could Honda build more Civics when Swindon was closed??? And that was well before the scrappage scheme kicked in.

I'm not trying to defend scrappage, but it appears to be sloppy reporting to not investigate these claims.

Lanciaman 20 November 2009

Re: Scrappage 'failing UK makers'

About a million people are now saying "I told you so!".