UK car production declined by 0.8% year on year to 69,755 units in March 2026, following a 10.7% fall in February. Output was weighed down by temporary parts supply disruptions at a major plant, weaker exports to Asian and US markets, and model changeovers.
Car exports fell 4.3% to 49,339 units, though overseas shipments continued to represent the majority of production. The EU remained the largest export destination, accounting for 62.6% of all shipments, or 30,899 units. Volumes to the bloc rose for a fourth consecutive month, up 4.8%, partially offsetting steep declines in exports to the US (-24.1%), China (-47.9%), and Japan (-25.3%), which together made up 18.6% of total shipments.
By contrast, domestic demand strengthened, with production for the UK market rising 8.7% to 20,416 units. Over the first quarter as a whole, car output fell 6.7% to 200,889 units, largely reflecting the closure of a major UK plant last year.
