LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- British car manufacturers have repeated their call for a Brexit deal to maintain competitiveness and safeguard jobs as the country is about to leave the European Union (EU) in just more than a month.
A total of 866,918 cars were produced in the first eight months of the year, which was the first time output has dipped below one million units in the period since 2014, and the biggest year-on-year decline since 2011, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed on Thursday.
British car manufacturing rose in August by producing 2,903 more cars, the first increase in 15 months, but it was not enough to compensate for April's 56,999-unit loss, due to factory shutdowns to mitigate against the original Brexit date on March 29, the SMMT said.
"While growth is always welcome, today's figures mask the underlying downward trend and strengthening global headwinds facing the sector, including international trade tensions, massive technological upheaval and, in Britain, political and economic uncertainty," said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
Seeing no-deal Brexit as a hammer blow to British car makers, Hawes said the mere threat of no deal has undermined investment and the potential imposition of tariffs, border delays and additional administrative burdens would damage competitiveness.
Hawes urged the British parliament and government to redouble efforts to get a deal that maintains free and frictionless trade.
Earlier this month, industry representatives from EU countries, including Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and Spain, made a united call for Britain and the EU to avoid a no-deal Brexit, warning it would impact consumer choice and affordability on both sides of the English Channel and disrupt the industry's just-in-time operating model.
Exports account for eight out of ten cars built in Britain, with the majority going to the EU members.
