ITALIAN MOTOR VEHICLE EXPORTS.
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Figures recently issued by the Italian Ministry of Commerce Show a wonderful growth in the number and in the value of motor vehicles exported from that cOuntry. The year 1917 was a record one for Italian motor manufacturers, for they exported touring ears and mOtor • lorries to the value of 114,978,805 liras; which is nearly four times the value of the Motor exports in the best pre-war • year. Previous to the war Italy had in excellent creputation as a producer of high-grade touring cars, which she exported in important quantities ; but her motor lorries were comparatively little known outside her own -borders. Thus, in 1911, which is quite an average year, motor lorries represented only a little more than 7 per cent, of the total of Italian motor exports. In 1917 motor lorry' exports were practically 90 per cent, of the total exports of_the Italian motor 'factories,
This big export business has been accomplished at a time when conditions were far from normal, it being necessary to secure a Government permit for. every . car sent out of the country, and this B38 permit. was granted only after home demands had been fully met. As is generally known, the Italian motor factories meet all the requirements of the Italian army; Italy is the only one of the Allied nations to be in this favoured position, for even America, despite her big motor output has been obliged to .draw portant motor supplies from Italy; while both France and England are dependent on that country, although not in the same degree.
Italy now stands second among the motor exporting nations Of the world. First place is held by America; France follows Italy, although the detailed figures for its 1917 exports have not yet been issued. and Great Britain occupies fourth position. The following are the detailed figures for the four countries in their respeAive positions as issued by the Italian authorities The above rate of reckoning Is in liras, the English equivalent of a lira being nearly 10d.
As will be readily nnderstood, the great bulk of exported Italian Vehicles find their way into France for the various Allied armies. In 1914 Italy sent into France only 354 touring cars and lorries-. in 1015 this number had in-, creased to 1889; in 1916 it stood at 4793, and 'during the year 1917 the figure was 6615 cars a,nd lorries.
• The following are the detailed statistics of automobile exports from Italy from 1911 to 1917 inclusive. Values are given in liras, and passenger cars and motor lorries are shown separately.