APD | British car production sees first growth in 15 months

By APD writer** Aditya Nugraha**

**LONDON, Sept. 26 (APD) - **Thanks to their summertime shutdown to April in preparation for Brexit date, Britain car production has increased 3.3 percent in August, the first time in 15 months, British automaker association said.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that closure of MW, Peugeot, Honda and Jaguar Land Rover factories that ranging from a few days to four weeks in April over Brexit initial scheduled in March could lead to disruption, including delays to the arrival of parts.

The factory closures led to a 44.5 percent output decline in April, according to SMMT. It could end up in vain as Brexit was eventually pushed back to the end of October.

August saw a small bounce back with 3.3% percent output rise to 92,158 units, contributed by a 15.2 percent demand surge in domestic market.

“Today’s figures mask the underlying downward trend and strengthening global headwinds facing the sector, including international trade tensions, massive technological upheaval and, in the UK, political and economic uncertainty,” SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said on Thursday.

“We now need parliament and government to redouble efforts to get a deal that maintains free and frictionless trade,” he added.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)