DECLINING demand from Europe put the brake on UK car production last month.

There were 128,192 cars made in the UK in September 2012 ... a 5.8% fall on the September 2011 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

Commercial vehicle production fell even more last month, dipping 20.2% to 9,607. Engine production in September 2012 was also down, slipping 12.8% to 213,052.

Despite the September fall, car production for the year so far, at 1.08 million, is up 10.2% compared with the January-September 2012 total.

Commercial vehicle production in the first nine months of this year is down 7.5% at 82,315, while engine production has fallen 0.4% to just over 1.88 million.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Declining demand for cars and vans across the major European markets impacted UK vehicle and engine production in September.

“Total UK vehicle manufacturing in the year so far has increased, but monthly output fell in September.”