Commercial Vehicle Production on the Continent.
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S0.11E interesting figures of production have recently been Circulated by a Continental authority and we give them as they were published, but we have no ready means for verifying them.
Austria produced 1,100 lorries and buses in 1925; 1$30 commercial units in 1926 and 2,000 in 1927. leour thousand is the estimate for 1928. Steyr is the leading make, followed by Austro-Fiat, Saurer, FrossBussing and Pen. Most of the lorries produced are of medium carrying capacity, heavy types being on the decrease.
Belgian production increased from 684 in 1925 to 1,000 both in 1926 and 1927. A comparatively small increase is anticipated this year. Auto-Traction and Miesse accounted for about 60 per cent, of the total production. Heavy competition is felt from cheap American products, production being restricted mainly to medium and heavy-duty lorries.
Commercial vehicle figures for Czecho-slovakia are not available for 1925 and 1926. The total production for 1927, however, shows an increase of 100 per cent. over that of previous years, so the number of lorries and buses produced-1,850—may be halved for the, earlier years. The estimated production for 1928 is 3.460 units. Praga was the leading make last year with 1,000 units, followed by Skoda (570), Walter (150), and Tatra (30). About 100 buses were built mainly by Skoda and Tatra.
Switzerland produced 450 lorries and buses in 1925, 850 in 1926 and 1,340 in 1927. This volume is expected to be maintained in 1928. Berne and Saurer are the outstanding makes, accounting for over 80 per cent. of production.
The onlyproducer is De Forende Automobilfabriker A/S, the maker of Triangels. Last year this firm produced 140 heavy-duty lorries and 10 buses.
e44 French commercial vehicle production figures are not available, passenger cars, lorries and buses being bulked together. Estimating one commercial vehicle to five motorcars, however, production in each of the last three years would be 29,500, 31,667 and 31,667 respectively. A slight increase is probable this year. Citroan's. total production last year was 75,000 and' Renault's 50,000. The next eight other makes• were Peugeot, Berliet, Mathis, Unic, Chenard-Walcker, Talbot. Delage and Hotchkiss.
German production fell from about 18,000 units in 1925 to 17,000 in 1926 and 12,000 in 1927, but is expected to jump to 21,000 this year. The lorries produced most extensively, in order of importance, are of the following net weights : 1,000-2,000 kilos., above 4,000 kilos. and 3,000-4,0(10 kilos.
Hungarian production, although small, fluctuates considerably. In 1925, 80 units were produced ; in 1926, 208; last year, 115; while the estimate for this year is 460. Protective regulations on the part of the Government partially accounts for the increase.
No figures are available as to Italian commercial vehicle production in 1925 and 1926. For last year the total given is 3,086 units, Fiat (with Spa) accounting for about 84 per cent.; Lancia came next. It is expected that lest year's production will be maintained in 1928.
Last year the Russian Amo plant manufactured about 450 lorries of 30-cwt. capacity, a further 60 vehicles of 3i-ton capacity being produced by the Yaroslav factory. This year, however, production is expected to fall a full 50 per cent.
Spain produced 450 lorries and buses in 1926 and 310 last year, whilst the estimate for 1928 Is 400. The Hispano-Suiza, producing 2-tonners and 4-tonners, is the leading domestic make.