2002 UK Car Production Up

LONDON, Jan 20, 2003; Reuters reported that car production in Britain rose by 9.1 percent in 2002 to 1.63 million despite a weak end to the year but remained below the average of the previous few years, official data showed on Monday.

The Office for National Statistics said production fell sharply in December alone with just 97,500 cars built, well down on the 139,000 built in November and 8.1 percent lower than the figure for December 2001.

On a three-monthly basis, which irons out monthly distortions, production was down a seasonally adjusted 14.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2001 from the third and 1.6 percent lower than the same period in 2001.

Earlier this month the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported record car sales, as opposed to production, last year of 2.56 million, driven by strong demand and falling prices.