According to just-released data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in 2016, Indian motorists bought 3,372 British-built cars, up from 309 in 2009. Demand rose 15.8% compared with 2015, lifting India from 10th to 8th place in the UK's Asia export markets.

 

In addition to cars, Indian motorists are also buying more British-built components than before. Last year, some 14 million pounds worth of UK car parts were bought by the Indian automotive aftermarket, and this is set to increase significantly - by around 15% annually over the next five years - as the Indian car parc grows, and more owners look for high quality British brands to fit to their vehicles.

 

Asia is now the third biggest export market for British built cars, after Europe and America, accounting for 13.4% of sales. Economic growth has led to increased demand for high-quality luxury vehicles. Ten new car models began production in the UK last year, nine of them from premium brands, helping to make the UK the second biggest producer of premium cars in Europe, after Germany, and the EU's third biggest car producer.

 

In 2016, global appetite for British-built cars rose by 10.3% to an all-time high of 1,354,216 - a second consecutive annual record. Around eight out of every 10 cars manufactured in the UK is now exported, bound for one of 160 markets worldwide, said the release.

 

UK car production achieved a 17-year high in 2016. As many as 1,722,698 vehicles rolled off production lines last year, an 8.5% uplift on total production in 2015 - and the highest output since 1999.