UK car makers are set to exceed production of 1.5 million cars for the first year since 2007.

New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that production rose 4.5% in first 11 months of the year to 1,424,023 units.

“With output up 4.5% in 2013 to-date, UK car manufacturing is on track to pass 1.5 million units this year, the best performance since 2007,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“A number of mass-market manufacturers have this year used November to prepare their production lines for new models, so volumes dropped 3.6% in the month. However, the forthcoming new models will play an integral part in what is predicted to be an even stronger 2014 for UK car manufacturing.”