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ritish Leyland "named" among likely bidders

25th May 1973, Page 18
25th May 1973
Page 18
Page 18, 25th May 1973 — ritish Leyland "named" among likely bidders
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

)r Magirus-Deutz from our European correspondent

A question mark is hanging over the re of Magirus-Deutz, the German truck bus concern now planning to further )1ish itself on the British market. jrus — famed for its air-cooled Vee nes — is owned by the mammoth :kner-Humboh-Deutz. Rumours current [ermany at present indicate that K HD [d like to find a buyer for the Magirus .p.

pssible buyers of Magirus, being sugK1 on the Continent, are British Leyland are in need of an overnight extension heir European truck and bus servicing network. The established Magirus dealer chain would provide that. BLMC might well have funds available for such a move following Lord Stokes' announcement (CM last week) of a £500m investment programme for the Corporation.

Another contender for Magirus is obviously Daimler-Benz. It would clearly be unwilling to see any foreign manufacturer — particular BLMC — get such a readymade foothold on its home territory. Such a move would give Mercedes virtual control of the German commercial vehicle market.

Any change in the ownership of Magirus might put the future of the "Club of Four" truck into further doubt. The 9-to-15-tongross truck is being developed by a consortium of Volvo, DAF, Saviem and Magirus. Signs of a rift in the Club are already apparent with Saviern making threatening noises at the news of a possible Volvo-Berliet link, currently under discussion. DAF, too, now with a major capital injection by International Harvester, might well like to withdraw from the project. If Magirus were to form a liaison with any outside manufacturer it could sound the death-knell of the project.

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Organisations: Club of Four

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