U.K. Car Production Jumps 8%

Output of passenger vehicles in the U.K. grew 8% to 136,400 units in July compared with the same month in 2016, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports.

The increase is due mostly to such seasonal factors as the timing of summer factory shutdowns and the timing of new-model launches in autumn. Production through the first seven months of 2017 slipped 2% to 1 million units, with 79% of the output sold to customers overseas.

SMMT notes that monthly new-car registrations in the U.K. fell 10% in July, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year shrinkage. The trade group blames sagging consumer confidence caused by uncertainty over the economic impact of the U.K.’s vote to quit the EU.

SMMT repeats its plea for the British government to provide “concrete plans” for dealing with Brexit.