As reported by the SMMT, the H1 rise comes on the back of a 3.7% increase in June output to 136,419 cars, driven by 16.5% growth in production for UK market.

In response, John Leech, KPMG’s UK head of automotive, said: ‘This has been a credible first half of the year for UK car production. A lot of important new models were launched such as the Nissan Qashqai, BMW Mini and Range Rover Sport and I expect a strengthening trend into the second half of 2014.  With the Jaguar XE and the new Vauxhall Astra due to be launched early next year, we are on the threshold of a golden era of British car manufacturing. 

'We have have firmed up our forecast for UK vehicle production and are now confident of seeing the 2 million vehicle barrier broken in 2017. This is exerting a powerful pull for supply chain companies as they re-evaluate the UK as a manufacturing location within their European production footprints.’