Welcome boost in UK car manufacturing
3 Jun 2014 03:00 PM
UK car production rose by 21.3% for the first
quarter of 2014 to 133,437 units, the largest monthly rise for the industry
since July 2012.
Also year-to-date volumes increased 6.9%, with
January-April exports up 8.7%. An upturn in demand is good news for the
thousands of suppliers and employees that rely on the
industry.
Good news also for new car registrations as they rose by
8.2% in April to 176,820 units, the 26th consecutive month of growth. It
appears UK economic confidence continues to improve still further and the
market trend is accelerating upwards. Exports of
output rose 2.9% in April to 217,599 units, as year-to-date volumes remain
stable. April’s growth powered by production for export, climbed 12.6% in
the month. European market recovery and investment in new UK facilities appear
to bode well for the industry’s future.
The
thriving nature of the UK car manufacturing industry was further underlined by
luxury car maker Aston Martin’s
plans to create 250 jobs, bulking up its workforce and extending its UK
manufacturing facilities. The new engineering, manufacturing and commercial
jobs will be created over the next few months. Aston Martin will also invest
£20 million to extend its manufacturing facility at Gaydon in
Warwickshire.
With its eye firmly on safeguarding the future Bentley
will recruit 51 new apprentices the biggest single apprentice intake in 10
years. Forty of these will be part of a new dedicated manufacturing scheme
focused on strengthening core skills, as Bentley expands its brand and adds an
SUV to its current offering.
Bentley’s new manufacturing apprentice approach
sees the introduction of dual education; this is a tailored method to
vocational training based on competence profiles and dedicated placements
within chosen professional areas in manufacturing.