Dec 23 Reuters British car production rose 5.7 in November from a year earlier, although output levels were still onefourth lower than prepandemic levels, as global chip shortages and supply chain issues continue to hurt, an industry body said on Friday.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders SMMT said 80,091 cars were made in Britain in November, with production growing in six of the past seven months.

Supply chain shortages, overseas lockdowns and some structural and product changes have combined to throttle output for much of 2022 but there is renewed hope these issues will begin to ease in 2023, said SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes in a statement.

The production of battery electric, plugin hybrid and hybrid vehicles rose 18.3 with combined volumes of 29,318 units, representing more than a third of total output in November. The production in this combined segment is up 2.9 in the first 11 months on the same period in 2021.

Domestic production jumped 59.1 to 20,206 units, while exports fell 5 to 59,885 cars.

November39;s performance was still down against historic levels, 44.1 below the prepandemic fiveyear average for the month and 25.7 lower than 2019 figures.

Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel

Source Reuters