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Now Colt jumps into UK market

18th March 1977, Page 27
18th March 1977
Page 27
Page 27, 18th March 1977 — Now Colt jumps into UK market
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JAPANESE vehicles are pressing to make a further dent in the British market with the news that Colt Cars are to market the Colt Canter range and a Mitsubishi vehicle — with possibly more models to come.

Colt, is joining Honda, Mazda, Datsun and Toyota with vehicles under 7.5 tonnes gvw that need no hgv licence, and Hino which is to bring a heavy tractive unit into the country.

A Colt spokesman told CM: "We have got to start somewhere, and we are not playing at this." It would be aiming for the premium market with vehicles that are said to be of a high quality.

The spokesman said that the first vehicles to arrive will be the 3.5 and 5.5-tonne chassis-cab which will be bodied in Britain.

But they could be first of a complete range of Mitsubishi vehicles to come into the country — the company produces a range that starts at 1 tonne pick-ups and goes through to 80-tonne tractive units.

It is entering the market with four vehicles, the Canter range at 3.5 tonnes, 4.6 tonnes and 5.5 tonnes and the Mitsubishi Fuso at 7.5 tonnes gvw.

And the company is aiming to build up a network of • around 50 dealers nationwide on the basis of one dealer per cOunty. News of the venture leaked out at car dealers' seminar held at the Colt Cirencester headquarters.

Colt is the first Japanese importer to aim for the premium market. A main attraction with other vehicles from Japan has been their competitive prices, particularly the Hino which has undercut most of its competitors at the weight.

The Colt moves are the result of a two-year feasibility study which has been carried out by the company.

First vehicles to enter the country will share the 2.7-litre (165cuin) diesel engine driving through a five-speed gearbox and they represent a range that is claimed to be outselling anything on the market in the Far East.

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