Nine out of ten cars sold under the government's scrappage scheme were built abroad, according to research by the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper says that of the 51,000 vehicles ordered since 18 May, 46,000 were built abroad and only 4,800 in the UK.
According to the figures obtained from car manufacturers, Hyundai has benefited most from the scheme, with over 8,000 orders for cars from the Korean manufacturer. Hyundai has been one of the most proactive manufacturers in courting scrappage customers.
Hyundai's sister company, Kia, has registered 6,540 orders. All Hyundai and Kia models are manufactured on the continent.
The figures also reveal that of 5,454 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, only 528 came from Burnaston, where the Avensis is produced. Of 4,455 Ford models ordered, only 45 Transits were built in the UK, at Ford's Southampton plant.
British-built cars ordered under the scheme include 660 Minis made in Cowley; around 590 Honda Civics and CR-Vs from Swindon; approximately 700 Vauxhall Astras and Vivaros from Ellesmere Port and Luton respectively; and 42 Land Rovers and six Jaguars from Halewood and Castle Bromwich.
The scheme has already come under fire for not capping the CO2 emissions of new cars bought under the scheme - casting doubt on any environmental benefits the scheme was purported to have - and will now raise doubts about the benefits the scheme is bringing to the UK car industry.
But industry voices point out that thousands of jobs in the supply chain and in dealerships across the country benefit from car sales.
Figures revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders last week revealed that there was no upturn in sales during May, although it is believed that orders will only start translating into sales in June.
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