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All systems go for Leyland this year?

12th April 1980, Page 9
12th April 1980
Page 9
Page 9, 12th April 1980 — All systems go for Leyland this year?
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' SHOULD be all systems go ✓ Leyland Vehicles tssenger vehicle division this .ar. New models are well on e way and existing models e subject to improvements quality as a result of new oduction technology, reIrts NOEL MILLIER.

These were the impressions 0 got when visiting the Ley-id chassis plants at Leyland d the National Workington oduction unit last week. The 1g-established Leyland Leord chassis is now sharing the oduction line with the adtrain lorry range in the w assembly hall — parently this has already 3ulted in much improved ality.

ritan's future is assured and Leyland National plant at orkington, which has -eady been completely itched to Mark 2 National Auction, has a wider range products than before. Leyd National body shells are form the basis of railway set multiple unit trains and iculated buses if orders are eived.

3ut Leyland passenger hide division general Lnager, Ken Maciver is not duly worried about inroads o the British markets by other manufacturers from this country and abroad.

He did not expect Leyland to monopolise the British bus market and said it would benefit from competition; yet Leyland had no intention of allowing its competitors to gain a prominent share of the market.

He went on to say that now Titan production is assured, the initial orders will have to be renegotiated. He admitted that the double-decker production troubles had meant lost orders, but from April 1981 Titans should roll off the Workington line at the rate of seven a week.

Existing Leyland doubledeck chassis will be phased out, except for the AN68 Atlantean which will remain in production as long as a demand exists. The Titan-derived B45 chassis will replace the Bristol VRT and the Fleetline initially, and the Atlantean eventually. It will be built at Bristol, and it is intended that it will form the backbone of Leyland's double-deck export sales.

Mr Maciver is confident that a sufficient demand would still exist to secure the future of Leyland's body plants at Leeds and Lowestoft. Lowestoft would still provide the lowbridge body requirement for many operators.

He would not be drawn on a launch date for the 1343 coach chassis, but said it would meet all potential customer requirements. It is not a specific answer to any competition.

The Leyland export bus range will be updated in line with the launch of new goods vehicles.


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