Car makers in Britain have recorded a 15% export drop in July, the 14th month of decline, mainly due to weaker EU and Asian markets.
The SMMT said the drop in diesel demand across Europe coupled with a slowdown in Chinese orders mainly accounted for the decline of 11% overall after home demand went up 10%.
Uk plants assembled 108,239 cars but now there are concerns about the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal and this might mean the eventual closure of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port assembly plant.
Honda is closing Swindon plant, Ford running down its Bridgend Engine Plant and there are doubts about future new models in Nissan, although Toyota has said it is still backing the UK plant near Derby.
Land Rover has also moved Discovery production to Slovakia and Jaguar I-Pace models are assembled in Austria.