LONDON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Britain's car production plummeted by almost a half in April as a result of factory shutdowns to mitigate against Britain's withdrawal from the EU originally scheduled for March 29, the country's motor industry body said on Thursday.
There were 70,971 cars rolled off production lines in April, down 44.5 percent year on year, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
April's dismal performance marks the 11th straight month of decline. In the year to date, 127,240 fewer cars have been built compared with the same period in 2018, a decline of more than a fifth, SMMT said.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said the figures are evidence of the vast cost and upheaval Brexit uncertainty has already wrought on British automotive manufacturing businesses and workers.
"Prolonged instability has done untold damage, with the fear of 'no deal' holding back progress, causing investment to stall, jobs to be lost and undermining our global reputation," Hawes said. "This is why 'no deal' must be taken off the table immediately and permanently."
The SMMT said the shutdown cannot be repeated for the current October 31 Brexit deadline, because it was part of a raft of costly and ongoing contingency measures, including stockpiling, rationalization, training for new customs procedures and rerouting of logistics.
Whether the current production slump could be eased later this year will depend on the outcome of Brexit. An orderly Brexit with a transition period would ease the decline by the end of the year while a no-deal Brexit could exacerbate the situation, SMMT said.
