Sheet Steel Cut Too Drastic
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nmoiWITHSTANDING a reduction I N M sheet-steel supplies," said Sir Rowland Smith, M.1.MeCh.E., chairman of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., at the company's annual meeting, last week, " we are told that exports mast he miontained to the fullest possible extent, wheeh means that domestic supplies will
be to a level which seriously threatens the efficiency and safety of our road transport system.
" While accepting in principle that defence must have priority, the reduction fit our sheet-steel supplies appears inure than is necessary at this moment."
Sir Rowland said that last year's record production of 185,138 vehicles and tractors was 21 per cent, above the, average level of the previous two years. Exports of commercial vehicles represented 69 per cent, of output..
Altogether, 146,099 cars, commercial vehicles and tractors were exported, and, together with spare parts, were valued at £41.3m. '[his figure was better by 64 per cent, than the company's previous best achieved in 1949.
Last year, arrangements were made for the assembly of Ford vehicles in Brazil and Holland, and Australia, Egypt and South Africa began to build tractors. The company now has 12 overseas assembly points.