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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Jasper Jolly

UK car manufacturing slumps to lowest level since 1953 barring Covid

Shiny blue and white cars on the production line
Mini Coopers on the production line at the BMW factory at Cowley in Oxford. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

British car and van manufacturing slumped in the first half of the year to its lowest since 1953 outside the Covid pandemic, as Donald Trump’s US tariffs caused global industry chaos.

UK vehicle manufacturing declined by 12% to 417,200 units in the first six months of the year, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a lobby group, show.

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