LONDON, April 30 (Xinhua) --British car production in March 2019 dropped 14.4 percent,compared with the same period one year earlier, down for the 10th month in a row, according to data published Tuesday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Figures showed car production in March 2019 in Britain declined by 14.4 percent to 126,195 units.
Car manufacturing for both home and overseas markets decreased in double digits, down 18.1 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively.
SMMT warned that given Britain crashed out of the EU and complied with the WTO rules, car production would be influenced heavily.
"Should Britain crash out of the EU and fall back on WTO rules for a sustained period, output is forecast to fall around 30 percent on recent levels to just 1.07 million units by 2021, a level consistent with the dark days of the mid-1980s,"SMMT said.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said: "Despite the extension, the Brexit clock is still ticking and a devastating 'no deal' remains a threat."
"This new period of limbo does not end the havoc for industry, with investment stopped and expensive factory shutdowns moved to avoid a Brexit deadline that has itself now moved,"he added.
"Just a few years ago, industry was on track to produce two million cars by 2020 - a target now impossible with Britain's reputation as stable and attractive business environment undermined,"Hawes said.
Hawes urged all parties to find a compromise urgently,"so we can set about repairing the damage and diverting energy and investment to the technological challenges that will define the future of the global industry."
