Vauxhall's profits hide mixed LCV fortunes
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• Vauxhall Motors announced increased profits last week, up 69% to £223.7m before tax, and record turnover. But while the sales performance of passenger models was good, LCV results were mixed. Total commercial sales in 1992 increased slightly to 24,356 vehicles: sales of the Portuguese-built Astramax rose 30% to 9,100 units in 1992, including the first of 2,000 vehicles for BT, while Astravan figures remained static at 6,399.
The Novavan will be replaced by the new Corsa this year, and the much-rumoured high-cube version may steal sales from Astra derivatives.
Sales of the Midi and Rascal continue to slide. The Rascal sells only in the UK and Italy, and 1992's domestic figures were down to a dismal 2,500 units, from a 1988 peak of 11,000. When Daihatsu launches the Piaggiobuilt Hijet. Rascal sales look set to be hit hard.
Manufacture of vans at IBC's Luton plant has been scaled down, as it responds to the Fmntera's success, but sales director Peter Batchelor confirmed that production of both Midi and Rascal would continue.
Vauxhall will need a Midi replacement, and must be a contender to replace Daf as Renault's partner in the Excel panel van project: Chairman Bill Ebberts will say only that the issue was still open.