Jubilee holidays hit car production

Last month's Jubilee double bank holiday put the brake on car production, official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed today.

A total of 119,193 cars were manufactured in the UK in June 2012 - a 0.7% dip on the June 2011 figure.

Commercial vehicle (CV) production last month was also affected by the June 4 and 5 bank holidays, dropping 19.7% to 8,367 vehicles.

Engine production in June 2012 also fell - going down 15.1% to 203,188.

Despite the slight fall last month, car production for the first half of 2012, at 756,116, is 14.1% up on the total for the January-June 2012.

CV production for the half year is 8.7% down at 56,096, while engine production for the first six months of this year is up 0.5% at 1,336,279.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: "Despite dipping in June, car production performed strongly during the first half of 2012.

"The £5.8 billion investment committed to the UK in the last two years provides long-term growth opportunities, but weakness in European demand may make the next few months a little bumpy."

PA