Britain's car industry was in meltdown today as new figures showed production has halved in 12 months and amid warnings a UK plant employing 100,000 may collapse.

Just 61,404 cars were manufactured last month, 58.7 per cent down on January 2008. Construction of commercial vehicles slumped by an even larger 59.9 per cent.

Almost all the cars made over the month - 83.5 per cent - were allocated for export as UK demand tails off, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

They released the dismal data as union leaders warned Alistair Darling 100,000 jobs at a car plant are under threat because it is in danger of 'imminent' closure.

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And there was yet more woe as Saab, which has 80 dealerships in the UK, announced it was filing for protection against creditors in a bid to save its business.

The plant was not named when the Chancellor met the joint general secretaries of Unite, Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, for crisis talks at the Treasury.

The meeting was called due to increasing fears it will have to close, despite a £2.3billion rescue package for the car industry announced last month.

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