Automotive Industry: UK car and commercial vehicle production rose by 17.1% to 79,018 units last month, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Output of cars, vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches increased in comparison with a weak March last year, when the earlier Easter break reduced working days and significant model changeovers began to impact output.Car manufacturing grew for the first time in 12 months, driven by robust export demand that increased by 30.6%, with almost three quarters (73.3%) of output shipped overseas. Conversely, production for the UK market fell by -6.1%. Electrified vehicle production also rose, by 38.5% – more than twice the rate of total production – to 31,661 units, to account for almost half of all UK car output (45.0%). (....)