UK car manufacturing rose by 5.8 per cent in 2011 with record levels of exports seen as being the major factor in this growth.

The figures came from the the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which also reported that car manufacturing rose in December 2011 by 1.6 per cent.

The society reported that the rise of 5.8 per cent meant that 1,343,810 vehicles were produced in 2011.

UK engine production rose by 4.9 per cent to 2,504,054 in 2011, despite a 1.3 per cent fall in December.

However, commercial vehicle output fell by 1.4 per cent  to 121,312 in 2011 and was down 2.7 per cent in December.

Mark Prisk, UK business minister, said: 'The global vehicle market grew by around four per cent in 2011. At the same time, UK vehicle production grew by nearly six per cent demonstrating how the UK has out-performed the market this year.

'Exports of UK-made cars and commercial vehicles have also risen from 75 per cent to [more than] 80 per cent of total production to meet this growing demand.

'We have some of the best plants in the UK that are among the most productive in Europe. Multi-billion pound investment and the creation of new jobs in the automotive sector demonstrates that the UK can successfully compete for business across the world.'