MAN stays solo Le reefer
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IENERAL MOTORS' plans to further expand its European comiercial vehicle operations have received a setback with the news at the West German industrial group MAN (Maschinenfabrik tugsburg-Nurnberg) will not after all be selling its commercial ehicle division to GM.
Dr Gunter Dietz, the vorldwide head of sales for AAN trucks maintains the cornany is firmly against the sale if the commercial vehicle diviion, which is the second argest heavy truck builder in 3ermany.
MAN is currently recovering rom losses of more than )M477m (£126m) and accordng to Dr Dietz the company is )rogressing according to plan.
"We are now at break-even mint and shall pass it in the iext financial year which be)ins in July 1985."
MAN truck production is curlantly running at around 27,000 iehicles a year built on two ;hifts. The decision by MAN not to sell its commercial vehicle division means that GM has also lost the opportunity to acquire MAN's distributor network.
This would have been a vital element in the expansion of GM's European truck operations which are currently represented by Bedford, its UK subsidiary.
GM, however, is still negotiating to buy a controlling interest in Enasa, the Spanish state-owned Pegaso truck and bus builder (CM, February 2, 1985).