Almost 150,000 cars were built in the month, a 16.4% increase on April 2015, and marking the ninth consecutive month of growth.

Increasing overseas demand continued to drive growth: production for export jumped 23.7% in April, counterbalancing a 7.8% decline in cars made for the domestic market. 

Year-to-date the market is up 10.8% on 2015, with 588,024 cars built in the first four months of the year. 

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Britain’s car manufacturing sector continues to thrive with a steady domestic market and surging demand from overseas, including our biggest export destination, Europe. This growth represents a significant endorsement of the strength and quality of the UK automotive industry.”

Stuart Apperley, director and head of UK automotive at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, commented: “By and large the UK automotive industry continues to outperform the wider economy and, in particular, the rest of the manufacturing sector.

“Carmakers have mostly shrugged off the uncertainty affecting other parts of the economy and many of Britain’s flagship producers are notching up record months, time and again.

“While this is driven significantly by strong domestic sales – and buoyed by cheap finance – demand from overseas also remains strong, despite the headwinds to which the global economy is subjected.

“All this is testament to the world-class quality of UK automotive manufacturing today, as well as the major investment British car firms have made into building their brands and creating demand in fast-growing export markets.”