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Sorting out the men from the boys
Page 94
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.LWAYS looking on the bright ide is Les Jones, managing irector of MAN-VW Truck and us Ltd.
I have seen all sides of the lotor business in the last 40 aars. I was an apprentice with oils-Royce, have been with EME and Cooper Cars, and ave been joint managing direcir of BMW and chairman of IAN Concessionaires.
We've had the peaks and oughs before, but I don't think ie seen one that has affected ) many people so quickly as is one.
We see it as the great leveller. le current economic climate, with sky-high interest rates, low investment, low consumer demand and high stocks, will sort out the men from the boys.
What will carry the survivors through this period, which is expected to stretch into mid-1981, • will be first-class products, firstclass service back-up, aggressive retailers and management capable of satisfying today's needs and coping with tomorrow's opportunities.
This is as true for cv as it is for washing machines. We will not only survive, but come out stronger.
MAN/VW is investing £3m in a new headquarters complex in Swindon that will house the entire operation, and this is in the depths of what some call the recession.
In the middle of December this year we'll be recruiting up to 100 staff in Swindon, such is our confidence in the future.
The total lorry market is declining by 12-15 per cent this year, after a record year in 1979. Next year, we believe it will be down again by another sizable and similar percentage.
But business must still go on, road transport is the lifeblood of British business, and manufacturers must uphold the product, the service and maintain customer satisfaction.
The prime objective must be to service the needs of current and potential operators through a strong and professional dealer network. But there are other considerations to be taken into account.
Despite the fact that we import an EEC product, our staff is British, our new headquarters is British built and we try to establish close working relations with UK industry.
The new MAN/VW 27-seater coach which appears at the Motor Show promises big export potential, and 75 per cent of it is built in Chesterfield. The LT40 4x4 van at the Show is also designed and developed in the UK.
Like all cv manufacturers we may present a rather formidable face and our products sometimes run foul of environmentalists. But people tend to forget that manufacturers are also human beings and consumers.
If the UK Government decides to increase weight limits manufacturers may rejoice —because it will give them the chance to prove that heavier lorries are by no means less environmentally acceptable and can, in fact,. mean fewer lorries carrying more.
With every new challenge comes a responsibility. If the maximum gvw limit is raised to 38 tons we would expect, even encourage, a restriction on the routes that vehicles would take.
This would give a government the chance to improve substantially the standard of the road infrastructure in Britain.
This can only lead to a more rationalised, better organised, and eventually more acceptable and economic distribution system.