The number of cars UK factories churned out last month plummeted by over 41%, new data shows – but electric cars set new records. 

Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 64,729 units rolled off production lines last month, making it the worst October since 1956.

The SMMT said UK car factories continued to be blighted by the global shortage of computer chips, with the closure of Honda's Swindon factory only 'exacerbating' matters. 

Behind the doom and gloom, UK-built electric cars set new records, however. 

The number of pure-electric built by British factories rose by 17.5% to 8,454 units. It means that so far this year, UK car makers have produced more than 50,000 zero emission vehicles, exceeding the total built in the whole of the pre-pandemic 2019. In fact, pure-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles made up nearly 31% of all cars made in October.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘These figures are extremely worrying and show how badly the global semiconductor shortage is hitting UK car manufacturers and their suppliers.'