LONDON, June 25 (Reuters) - British automotive production
more than halved in May compared with the same month in 2019,
before the coronavirus pandemic, as a global shortage of
semi-conductors and other components continued to weigh on car
plants.
The output of 54,962 cars was down 52.6% from May 2019
although it was 10 times the figure for May 2020 when Britain
was in the grip of a first coronavirus lockdown, the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said the recovery of
production faced a massive challenge in Britain and beyond
because of the supply shortages.
"If the UK is to remain competitive, therefore, it must
ensure it has a globally attractive policy framework for both
vehicle production and the supply chain," he said.
Speeding up zero-emission car production had to be part of
Britain's strategy, he said.
(Reporting by William Schomberg, editing by Andy Bruce)