New Horizons N O industry can live permanently on the crest

21st September 1962, Page 3

21st September 1962

Page 3

Page 3, 21st September 1962 — New Horizons N O industry can live permanently on the crest

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

of a wave, as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' president, Mr. L. G. T. Farmer, rightly said when addressing a Press conference for the Commercial Motor Show which opens at Earls Court, London, today. Nevertheless, the British commercial vehicle manufacturing industry, having cracked all its previous records in 1961 to become the world's leading exporter of commercial vehicles, has proved to have more than enough buoyancy to outride a fairly steep trough that this year followed their particular wave.

This individual, and potentially dangerous, trough was brought about by a general economic " tightening-up " and consequent reduced demand for commercial vehicles at home and overseas. In fact, exports for the first half of this year were 15 per cent. lower than for the same period of 1961; BUT Britain still keeps her premier position. We are still the world's leading exporters.

To anybody visiting Earls Court the reason for British optimism is obvious. This exhibition bids fair to be one of the finest Commercial Motor Shows yet staged. It is packed with new ideas. That is why Sir Henry Spurrier justly claims on page 112 of this issue that British vehicles remain the best in the world. What is more, they are going on towards new horizons, one of which could well be within the European Economic Community.