UK car production increased by 16.2% in August to 91,282 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It is the third successive monthly gain which has pushed year-to-date volumes up 3.1% to 984,545 units.

Mike Hawes, the new SMMT chief executive, said: “UK car manufacturing is continuing to grow with global automotive brands building on UK-based design, R&D and engineering expertise to produce some of the world's most dynamic, dependable and desirable vehicles.

"Despite August typically being one of the year's quietest months due to summer breaks, the past 12 months has been the most productive since late 2008."

John Leech, head of automotive at KPMG in the UK, believes the growth in production will continue this year.

He said: “Soaring UK car production is being fuelled by rising demand from both the UK and the Eurozone. Yet these August 2013 figures may be flattered by the poor results this time last year, when the Greek and Spanish debt crises were gathering momentum.

“Nevertheless, with UK car sales almost back at pre-recession levels and with demand from Europe having bottomed out, I remain confident UK car production will rise again this year, the fourth year in succession and I forecast further increases in production in 2014, 2015 and peaking in 2016 at around 1.9 million cars.

“One notable point, as a result of the UK increasingly making higher priced cars, the forecast trade surplus on cars is projected to be a record GBP 8 billion in 2016.”