UK car production drop to lowest since 1956
Car production in the UK last year plummeted to its lowest level since 1956, with parts shortage, staff absences and factory closures all battering the automotive industry.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed output dropped by 6.7% to 859,575 cars made in the UK in 2021 – over 61,000 less than 2020 and a fall of 34% compared to 2019, when over 1.3m cars rolled off the production lines.
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The ongoing global shortage of semiconductor chips – between 1,500 and 3,000 of which are used in the manufacturing of a typical modern car – was the main problem, causing factories to reduce or even pause production.
“2021 was another incredibly difficult year for