LONDON, April 24 — British car production returned to growth in March after some automakers completed retooling to make new models, an industry body said today, in another sign of momentum in the country’s manufacturing sector.

Output reached more than 142,000 units last month, an increase of 12 per cent compared with March 2013, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. In 2014 so far, production is nearly 3 per cent higher than a year earlier, it said.

Output fell earlier this year as carmakers such as Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and BMW adjusted production lines to manufacture new models, an SMMT spokesman said.

Britain’s car market has been boosted by the turnaround in the country’s economy and recovering demand in Europe, which accounts for about half of the country’s automobile exports.

Car production accounts for about 15 per cent of Britain’s overall manufacturing output in terms of value. — Reuters