Commercial vehicle output fell by 8.7% however, during the first-half of the year and down 19.7% in June, whilst engine output rose slightly by half a percentage point over H1, dropped by 15.1% over June.

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive, said that: ‘despite dipping 0.7% in June, car production performed strongly during the first half of 2012, with output up 14.1. The £5.8bn investment committed to UK in the last two years provides long-term growth opportunities, but weakness in European demand may make the next few months a little bumpy.’