Britain's carmakers are facing the "calm before the storm", as they brace for severe fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the nation's industry body warned on Friday.
UK car production fell by just 0.8 per cent to 122,171 vehicles in February from the same month of last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement.
The industry organisation added that in February -- the month before the coronavirus pandemic started to be felt in Britain -- global shipments fell 3.1 per cent to just short of 95,000 cars.
However, the SMMT also forecast that the coronavirus outbreak could wipe around 200,000 units off UK production this year -- and called for government help for automakers to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak.
"The figures come at a time of unprecedented challenge for the UK and its automotive industry, with all car manufacturing plants now on shutdown as the country focuses efforts on overcoming the crisis," it said in the statement.
"An initial assessment commissioned by SMMT of the potential impact of these shutdowns suggests a loss of around 200,000 units by the end of 2020, just under 1.1 million -- a fall of 18 per cent.
"However, the impact could be far more severe if the crisis, and therefore shutdowns, were to last for months instead of weeks."
"If we're to keep this sector alive and in a position to help Britain get back on its feet, we urgently need funding to be released, additional measures to ease pressure on cashflow and clarity on how employment support measures will work."