ledford saps
Page 5
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so No 1 EDFORD jumped back into e No 1 seller spot in the itish truck market last year. Figures issued by the Socie of Motor Manufacturers id Traders show that Bedrd beat Ford and Leyland in le important over 3.5-tonnes ctor.
Out of the big four UK anufacturers (Bedford, Ford, !yland and Chrysler) Bedrd was the only company to crease its truck sales last !ar compared with 1975. rith 12,894 trucks registered, dford took 23 per cent of the ver 3.5-tonnes sales, an crease of 9.2 per cent on 175.
Overall market leadership, king into account car dered vans and vehicles up to 5-tonnes, was retained by )rd for the fifth year running. Its total sales stood at 65,402 1.3 per cent) for 1976, as ;ainst Leyland's 60,003 (28.7 cent), Bedford's 38,042 8.2 per cent) and Chrysler's 890 (4.7 per cent).
SMMT figures reveal that le commercial vehicle dustry was still struggling iring 1976. The overall mar was five per cent down on 175 at 208,928.
However, in December sales eked up and gave some hope ir this year. Overall sales rose om 13,479 in December 1975 13,676, an increase of 1.5 per But the domestic manuicturers must be worried )out the performance of the worters. Imports rose from i.17 per cent in 1975 to 13.96 2.r cent last year.
This is particularly signifiint, given the smaller marat, and the problem for UK hicle builders is highlighted the over 3.5-tonnes sector. Here, despite Bedford's perormance, British sales fell om 52,229 in 1975 to 48,436. nporters raised their sales om 5,488 to 7,322.