London sources have stated that the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), one of the UK's largest trade associations, said the Indian demand formed part of a wider 17 year high for British car manufacturing last year.
"India is now the eighth biggest Asian market for UK car exports, with demand rising at a rapid rate as an increasing number of affluent buyers take advantage of a range of all new premium and luxury British-built cars. UK car exports to the country grew 15.8 per cent to 3,372 in 2016," SMMT has said in a statement.
Meanwhile it has also found that Indian-built car models accounted for 31,535 new car registrations in the UK, an uplift of more than 12.6% on 2015. SMMT Chief Executive has stated that India and the UK have a great history of collaboration in the automotive sector and it is essential we secure mutually beneficial trade relationships in the future. India is a growing market, for the moment largely for luxury vehicles. But we face high import tariffs which makes it more difficult to sell into India.
He has also noted that it remains to be seen the kind of trade deal the UK may look to agree with India post-Brexit. But meanwhile, it is very much about producing the right product for the market, which is in the premium category". Meanwhile, as many as 1,727,471 vehicles rolled off production lines in the UK last year from some 15 manufacturers, an 8.8 per cent rise in total car production in Britain compared to 2015 and the highest output since 1999.
