Marshall snaps up AWD from receiver
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• The future of AWD truck designs was secured last week when Marshall SPV bought the British manufacturer's design rights, parts and service business and most of its machinery and plant.
Initially Marshall SPV plans to keep around 60 of the 80 remaining staff at AWD's Dunstable factory employed temporarily. It plans to transfer production to its Cambridge site, but has talked to the receiver about leasing part of the Dunstable site for up to a year. Receiver KPMG Peat Marwick has not decided when to sell the property.
Like AWD, Marshall can only use the Bedford name overseas. General Motors still has sole rights to supply dealers and the British Army with Bedford parts. David Brown bought the Bedford civilian truck business from GM in 1987 renaming it AWD. Receiver Tony Thompson says Marshall will be interested in keeping the Bedford name alive overseas.
Marshall, which produces its own range of military vehicles, refuse trucks, bus bodies and car transporters, is not saying which products it will concentrate on, apart from the MT range which has a four-tonne payload and can be built for military and civilian use.
Marshall managing director Bernard Williams says: "In AWD we have acquired products with a tremendous reputation in the specialist market for 4x4 trucks ... our decision was influenced by the joint receivers' ability to obtain new orders and thereby to maintain the potential for future orders."