The number of new cars made in the UK fell 43% in May from the same month a year earlier, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. However the drop, to 67,754 cars, was the smallest of the year. Commercial vehicle production fell 73.5%.

Several firms have temporarily shut factories or cut back production to run down existing supplies after the downturn hit demand for new vehicles.

In the first five months of 2009, car production was down 54% at 319,022 compared with the same period last year.