Britain's car industry is booming, according to figures published yesterday, on the eve of the international motor show in Birmingham.

Car production increased by almost 10% last month when output rose to more than 144,000, bringing the total so far this year to 1.2m - up 13% on a year earlier.

Separate figures from the office of national statistics showed that car production rose - seasonally adjusted - by 15.3% in the three months to September compared with the previous quarter.

Output is being driven by exports, with production for overseas up 16% in the third quarter. Over the past year, export production has risen by 22%.

Chris Macgowan, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which is organising the motor show, said: "The fact that a fifth of the show's debut models has been built at UK plants serves to underpin our position as a world force in car manufacturing."

Jaguar highlighted the rapid increase in output by announcing that sales in the first nine months of this year have already surpassed last year's record 100,791.

The company, owned by Ford, said it had sold 102,189 cars in the year to the end of September, with 78% of these for export. Sales to the US are up 61% and in the UK 50% so far.

Britain is now, after Germany, Europe's second largest car market, with sales this year likely to surpass 2.5m - a new record, according to Mr Macgowan. Just over 2m cars were sold during the first nine months of 2002.

On view at the motor show will be the new Audi A8 all-aluminium car. Yesterday Royal Ballet star Darcey Bussell helped to launch the vehicle wearing an aluminium dress designed by Scott Henshall.