According to figures released by SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk), car manufacturing fell in April to 122,116 — an 18.2% decrease on April 2016 (attributed, at least in part, to the late Easter Bank Holiday affecting production).

Despite the decline, year-to-date production remains strong, with 593,796 cars made so far in 2017, a 1% increase on the same period last year. This saw production reach its highest level for the first four months of the year since 2000.

Demand from overseas buyers continues to drive growth, with a 3.5% increase in exports so far this year offsetting a fall of 7% at home. In total, 76.8% of all cars made in the UK since January have been shipped abroad, with the majority going into the EU.