CAR production in the UK went into reverse during the final three months of 2005, official figures are showing.

A drop in domestic and export orders left total output down 8.2 per cent compared with the previous three months, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) said.

Of the 369,728 cars manufactured in the final quarter, a total of 73,041 of these were for the home market - representing a 12.2 per cent decline.

It concluded a tough year for the UK motor industry with the collapse into administration of MG Rover and the closure of its Longbridge-based plant.

According to the ONS, there was a 7 per cent fall in exports between October and December against the previous three months.

The figures follow an announcement earlier this month by the European Car Industry Association that the number of new cars sold in 2005 had slipped slightly and that Japanese car makers such as Suzuki and Honda were continuing to eat away at the market share of European rivals.

But data published by the ONS in September showed that UK vehicle production between in the third quarter rose by 5.6 per cent, though this was driven largely by the export market.

The ONS said that total commercial vehicle production for the three months to the end of December fell by 7.1 per cent.