Britain’s flourishing car makers have warned that the UK's departure from the European Union poses the “biggest threat in a generation” to the £72bn-a-year industry.

More than than half of the 1.7m cars rolling off UK production lines each year are exported to Europe and trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has warned of the risks of failing to secure a tariff-free deal present as Britain officially invoked Article 50 on Wednesday to begin the departure from the trading bloc.

“Triggering Article 50 has started a race against time to secure a deal that safeguards the future of the UK automotive industry,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the trade group representing an industry at a 17-year high for production.