Record number of UK-built cars exported in 2015

Of all the cars produced in Britain during 2015, 77.3 per cent were exported overseas. A total of 1.6m cars were produced in 2015 – the highest number in a decade. Of those, 1.2m were exported, despite shrinking demand in Russia and China, previously very big markets for UK car exporters.

Fortunately the European economic recovery resulted in a big increase in demand for British cars in Europe, which now accounts for 57.5 per cent of all UK car exports. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said “Achieving these hard fought for results is down to vital investment in the sector, world class engineering and a committed and skilled UK workforce – one of the most productive in the world.

“Continued growth in an intensely competitive global marketplace is far from guaranteed, however, and depends heavily on global economic conditions and political stability. Europe is our biggest trading partner and the UK’s membership of the European Union is vital for the automotive sector in order to secure future growth and jobs.”

Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan were the biggest UK car producers in 2015, both building almost 500,000 cars. MINI, Toyota and Honda all produced more than 100,000 cars, while Vauxhall produced 85,241, all Astra. Other, low volume car manufacturers such as Bentley and Lotus produced 25,142 cars between them. 

Top 10: British Exports - we list the cars that are driving the demand for Brit-built vehicles