FREIGHT
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Looking good for '78
PRODUCTION of commercial vehicles in the first nine months of 1977 was 289,184 units compared with 267,477' units in the same period of 1976 — an increase of 8.1 per cent.
Half of these vehicles were supplied to the domestic market and this was the main reason for the growth in total output for 1977.
Production of medium and heavy tlo axle trucks for the domestic market has remained fairly static but there has been a decline in production of three and four axle vehicles which reflects the continuing weakness in this area.
Bus production was also severely depressed in 1977.
The firmest sectors for export production were vans and light trucks while the export performance of British multiaxled trucks and articulated units continued to be poor. Bus exports were also down.
The majority of British commercial vehicle producers were affected by labour disputes either internally or at component suppliers resulting in lost sales on the domestic market to imports and to the export market.
British Leyland produced more in 1977 than in 1976 despite its labour problems. Output of vans and Land Rovers rose by 3.2 per cent but the production of trucks and buses fell by 4.3 per cent.
Chrysler increased production by 14.1 per cent which reflected the establishment of its van and heavier vehicles ranges.
To complement the heavy range car derived vans imported from France and heavy duty lorries from Spain.
Ford increased its output by 7.2 per cent despite earlier labour problems and Bedford increased output by 18.3 per cent despite later internal problems.