Jaguar Land Rover is moving to 24-hour production at its Merseyside operations for the first time in its 50-year history. This comes just months after the company announced that it would be recruiting 1000 extra staff for the Halewood factory.
The UK now exports more cars than it imports for the first time since 1976.
In the first three months of this 2012, the UK manufactured 401,412 vehicles – a 12% increase on the previous quarter.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “Manufacturing is continuing to lead our economic recovery, with automotive at the forefront of long-term growth opportunities. The major investment commitments made by global vehicle manufacturers to their UK plants and facilities are now beginning to create more jobs and stronger growth in the supply chain.”
These developments come after the Conservative led government's implementation of economy-boosting measures, intending to increase manufacturing in the UK, such as in the automotive industry. The Conservatives have lowered rates of corporate tax and have set up the Regional Growth Fund which is assisting many automotive companies particularly in the North West.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said: "We are putting money into advanced manufacturing technology and innovation centres and expanding the number of apprenticeships. We really want to see the automotive industry flourish and we are determined to do the things to help it succeed."