II looks ahead :RNATIONAL Harvester aassessing its future pean marketing strategy !spect of DAF said J.
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Kaine, president of the 'national Harvester k Group in Birmingham reek.
ernational Harvester's al business represents a Om dollar turnover and i r er cent minority holin the Dutch company y represents an unsatisry situation for them.
wever, the existing situa nlikely to change, as 24 !era of DAF shares are d by the Dutch Governand the remainder by the DDorne family, both of n are reluctant to relincontrol.
ernational Harvester is w thout experience in pe—it withdrew own vehicle production as late as 1968. Appreciating the shortcomings of marketing a wholly American product in Europe, it thought DAF, with its established dealer network throughout the Continent, presented a suitable market foothold.
Alignment of the American company's interests with another Continental-based manufacturer is just one of the possibilities under consideration.
Nearer home, the Seddon Atkinson interest is more settled, with a 20 per cent increase in production forecast in 1979.
Although some increased production for the home market is predicted, much of the growth is to come from improved export performance—in particular to the Middle East and Africa.