Car and Van News

Toyota has begun production of its new Auris family hatch at its UK plant, putting the smiles back on the faces of UK Government Ministers.

While 2012 has seen a string of positive headlines for the UK auto industry, last week the momentum was stalled by Ford announcing the closure of two UK plants.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced yet another swathe of new jobs, this time at its Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham.

The booming manufacturer is seeking more than 1,100 new staff, having already expanded its workforce by more than 8,000 in the last two years.

Jaguar Land Rover has received more than 35,000 applications for the 1,000 new jobs being created at its Halewood manufacturing facility near Liverpool.

The revelation comes as a new report warns of a global skills gap leaving 10 million manufacturing posts unfilled.

Car manufacturing in Britain jumped by almost a quarter in February, on the strength of surging exports.

The positive figures are yet more good news for the industry, days after Jaguar Land Rover announced a move to 24-hour production with 1,000 more jobs at its Merseyside plant.

September registration figures for the UK’s new car market have been branded ‘stable’ by industry executives, but they have also cut predictions of next year’s sales.

Some 332,476 new cars were registered in September, traditionally a highly busy time as one of the two months where registration plates are updated.

Manufacturing in the UK’s automotive sector rose significantly in August, according to new figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The news comes in the same week as Jaguar Land Rover announces the building of a new engine plant in Wolverhampton.

Toyota has boosted UK car manufacturing this morning with the news that it is to export the Avensis from Britain to the company’s home market of Japan.

The Avensis is only built at Burnaston in Derbyshire and will now be sent to Japan to answer growing desires in the far-east for European-developed cars.