UK vehicle manufacturing fell in the first half of the year as the sector continued to grapple with global economic and trade uncertainty. British car output fell 7.3% in the first six months of the year, while van and other commercial vehicle production plummeted by 45.4%, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

According to the organisation, production was slowed or halted by some manufacturers due to uncertainty around the global economy and earlier threats of US tariffs.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds blamed Donald Trump's tariffs and competition from China for the slump in vehicle manufacturing.

He told BBC Breakfast he was "very concerned" about the industry, which he described as the "jewel in the crown" of British manufacturing.

"I'm very concerned about automotive, the pressures on the system which come from the US trade agenda, but also an incredible increase in capacity from China.

"It's why as a Government we've adopted so many measures specifically around the automotive sector.

"So that's everything from the industrial strategy, which reduces the energy costs for British automotive factories making vehicles - cars, vans and buses.

"It's also why we changed the regulation that we inherited from the previous government on the transition to electric vehicles, why we negotiated the automotive quota with the US - a key market for us in that regard - and also why we've just announced an incentive program for... electric vehicles made in the UK, which will bring the cost down for British consumers."