There can’t be many sectors in the UK boasting double digit growth right now – or ones which export 63% of output. However, UK car production in the first half of the year rose 14.1% to hit 750,000, which means an annual rate of 1.5 million. That compares to 1.0 million in 2009, and means it is almost back to its pre-crisis level of 1.6 million reached in 2007/2008. Over the next few months it could drop back a little as demand from southern Europe is now so weak, but the medium-term outlook is still very rosy.