Car Production Climbs 12% in U.K.

British car plants built 142,200 vehicles in March, the strongest output for the month in 10 years, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The upswing reverses drops in year-on-year output in January and February, resulting in 3% growth to 404,800 units for the first quarter of 2014. The U.K. exports 77% of the vehicles it makes, mostly to Europe.

SMMT says full-year car production could reach 1.6 million vehicles this year, a 10-year high. The industry built a record 2 million cars in March in 2017.