ore mergers in next decade
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by Brian Weatherley
• Dal, Renault and MAN could become increasingly vulnerable as the long-term players in a European truck market which will continue to be "very dangerous" place, according to the automotive analysts DIU/ MacGraw Hill research director John Lawson.
But there is still likely to be room, come 2000, for smaller companies such as ERF which can adapt quickly to volatile domestic markets.
At a business seminar in London last week Lawson said "the next decade will mean success for some and ignominy for others."
Despite the failure of the Volvo/Renault tie-up Lawson expects more mergers and strategic alliances involving those three key players: "one could characterise without having the clearest way forward. I would expect that out of that will come strategic decisions which will bring companies closer together." DRI expects the European truck market to bounce back from the current slump in 1995 and 1996 with the UK leading the way in the recovery. It also forecasts further growth in road freight with a 55% increase in tonne/kilometres by 2010 along with a 45% increase in vehicle kilometres through higher GVWs and payloads together with a 20% increase in the Western European HGV pare to 3.8 million vehicles.