UK vehicle production falls 18.2% in August to 38,693 units; JLR cyberattack impact on September output in focus.Britain’s vehicle production dropped 18.2 per cent in August to 38,693 units, industry data showed on Thursday, with attention now on how a cyberattack that has shut Jaguar Land Rover’s plants will hit September production.
The outage at Britain’s largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, which produces about 1,000 cars a day across three UK factories, has paralysed operations and disrupted the wider supply chain, raising concerns about jobs and the economy.
UK car and commercial vehicle production fell 18.2 per cent year on year to 38,693 units in August, a traditionally low-volume month due to planned summer maintenance, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
“The focus is now on September’s performance, and the likely impact of the cyberattack at Britain’s biggest automotive employer… SMMT is engaged with members and the government to understand what additional supportive measures may be needed,” the trade body said.
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend the closure of its factories until October 1, bringing the total shutdown to four weeks after a cyberattack in early September halted all production.
While overall car output declined, electrified car production rose 40.9 per cent, with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) making up nearly half of units produced in August.
The downtrend in output for export vehicles also continued, with production down 14.2 per cent as British carmakers face trade uncertainties amid tariffs from the U.S. and stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers.
