Covid 'pingdemic' hits UK carmakers

LONDON: Production across Britain's automotive sector has fallen dramatically due to staff shortages, as workers self-isolate under government Covid-19 tracing rules, an industry body said on Thursday.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said up to 30 percent of workers in some companies were being forced to stay at home because they were "pinged" by the Covid app.

The state-run National Health Service said record numbers were contacted by the app in the week to July 21, identifying them as having been in close contact with someone who has later tested positive.

Businesses across the country have said the situation is causing staff shortages and hitting trade, even as most legal restrictions were lifted in England since July 19.

The SMMT said only 69,079 cars had been built in factories over last month — the worst June for the sector since 1953.

The massive slump underlined a "turbulent" six months of car production during the pandemic, the SMMT said, which also included the knock-on effect of a global chip shortage and the impact of new post-Brexit trading rules with Europe.

"While the UK automotive industry continues to suffer the effects of the global pandemic, with first half year production down significantly and a tough few months looming, the sector has the capability to recover," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

He called on the government to bring forward an Aug 16 target to exempt fully vaccinated adults from the self-isolating rules under a "test to release scheme".