§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many cars were exported to the United States in 1988 and in 1989; and what information he has on the reason for the change;
(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of United Kingdom cars exported to the United States by category in 1987, 1988 and this year to date and the United States share by value of United Kingdom exports of cars.
§ Mr. RedwoodPursuant to the holding answer of 2 July 1989, the United Kingdom exported 31,703 passenger motor vehicles to the United States in 1988. In the four months January to April 1989 the United Kingdom exported 11,187 vehicles to the United States compared with 13,090 vehicles for the same period in 1988.
Short-term fluctuations in the level of exports may not be fully representative of the market. However, one factor that may have affected the level is that there has been a weakening of the United States luxury car market in which the United Kingdom has a strong presence.
The following table shows a breakdown by category of United Kingdom exports of motor vehicles to the United States for the requested periods and the United States share by value of United Kingdom exports.
1083W
United Kingdom exports of motor cars to the United States—numbers of vehicles 1987 1988 January-April 1989 New Vehicles—Assembled Station wagons and estate cars not exceeding 1,500 cm3 1 — 11 exceeding 1,500 cm3 but not exceeding 3,000 cm3 141 28 9 exceeding 3,000 cm3 3,042 3,478 1,686 Other not exceeding 1,500 cm3 56 50 11 exceeding 1,500 cm3 but not exceeding 3,000 cm3 21,978 5,855 2,266 exceeding 3,000 cm3 25,172 21,975 7,056 New Vehicles—Unassembled not exceeding 1,500 cm3 — 45 18 exceeding 1,500 cm3 but not exceeding 3,000 cm3 1 10 14 exceeding 3,000 cm3 — 6 — Used Vehicles 546 210 110 Vehicles with engines other than spark-ignition or compression-ignition combustion engines n/a 16 5 Motor Caravans n/a n/a 1 United States share by value of United Kingdom exports of cars—percentage 40 28 24 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.
Notes: Motor vehicles defined as SITC R2 Sub-Group 781 for 1987 and SITC R3 Item 781.2 for 1988 and 1989. 1988 and 1989 figures provisional.