Auto Production Drops 18% in U.K.

Carmakers in the U.K. built 122,100 vehicles last month, down from 149,300 in April 2016, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

SMMT blames the decline on a combination of unexpected production cuts and the late timing of this year’s Easter holiday. The trade group notes that output through the first four months of 2017 advanced 1% to a 17-year high of 493,800 vehicles.

Output of light passenger vehicles in the U.K. has been growing fairly steadily since at least 2011. Growth also continued after last year’s vote to exit the European Union, a decision that analysts expected to trigger an immediate sales slump.

SMMT reiterates that the industry’s future growth will depend heavily upon an aftermath to the Brexit decision that that fosters continued easy access to the European car market.