CAR manufacturing in the UK fell 6.3 per cent in March to 126,609 units. 

In the first three months of 2013 (Q1), the number of cars produced compared to the same period last year fell two per cent to 393,416 units. Last year, the figure stood at 401,425. 

Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim Chief Executive, said the fall in car output in the first quarter was a result of the UK’s vehicle manufacturing continuing to ‘grapple with weak demand in Europe’.

He said: "Other factors such as extended facility holidays during the Easter period may have also impacted production volumes in March, during which output declined six per cent. 

“Despite ongoing difficult market conditions, UK automotive manufacturing is expected to grow overall in 2013 and beyond, fuelled by significant investment from global automotive companies."

And while the number of cars produced so far this year is less than in 2012, the number made for sale in Britain has actually increased from 74,277 in Q1 in 2012 to 90,253 this year. That is an increase of 21.5 per cent. 

But it is the reduced number of exports that brought the overall figure down. Of the 393,416 cars made between January and March, 303,163 (77.1 per cent) were manufactured for export, compared with 327,148 (81.5 per cent) in 2012. 

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