DAF climbs out of red
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IN SPITE of fewer sales, DAF expects to make a profit this ye according to Piet Van Doorne, chairman of the company's board management. And it is maintaining investment in new products.
This emerged during the launch of two new vehicles (see page 23) at the company's Eindhoven plant. The liquidity of the company, too, had improved, despite losses in the first three quarters of the financial year.
A boost to DAF's fortunes came with a Dutch army order for 1,100 10-tonne military vehicles and a contract to build 841 armoured personnel card under licence. Advanc payments for these have tic received from the Dutch gove ment, Mr Van Doorne said.
Nearly £65m had be invested in the DAF Belg plant — a sign that the compE firmly intends to continue build its own cabs, axles and gines.
The sticky question of merg or co-operation with oth manufacturers was skirted cr by Mr Van Doorne. "If it's ben' cial to us," he said; "we wol be prepared to consider sucl move."
However, he would not drawn into saying if any SL approaches were being made.
It became obvious, howev that DAF would be happier if were to sell its shareholding the company.
Turning to the. forecast for 1 coming year, Mr Van Dom said DAF expects a slight upti in sales. He thought a rise of I tween 5 to 7 per cent was on 1 cards, mainly due to the int duction of the 2500 and X,' models.