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Transport has the power to bounce back
Page 95
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BOTH REALISTIC and optimistic in his assessments is Andy Thorns, truck sales director of Ford Motor Co Litd.
Total commercial vehicle sales have held up remarkably well despite the uncertainty in the economy and we are currently predicting that sales for this year will end just 12 per cent below the record level of 300,565 units achieved in 1979. Naturally, some sectors will do better than others, reflecting the fortunes of the various industries operating the different types of vehicles.
For example, we expect sales of panel vans in the 2 to 3.5 gvw range to fall by only 2.5 per cent whereas sales of lorries over 3.5 tonnes gvw are likely to fall by 17.5 per cent.
Sales of top-weight lorries (over 28 tonnes gvw) to the end of August dropped 18.5 per cent compared with the same period last year and will undoubtedly fall further by the end of the year.
But I am happy to say that though sales for the industry as a whole for the first nine months dropped by 11 per cent, Ford sales bucked this trend by rising marginally. Thanks mainly to improved supply, Transit sales increased by 2,563 to reach a bestever nine-month total of 34,933 and sales of A-Series, D-Series and Transcontinental edged up 242 units to 12,156.
While it is unlikely we can sustain this level of sales to the year end I am confident that we will retain our overall market leadership.
Next year promises to be difficult for both manufacturers anc operators alike. Sales of lorrie( over 3.5 tonnes gvw are unlikely to reach even 1980's figure o. about 60,000 units and operators will be looking for ways of re. ducing operating costs.
There is no doubt that in thes( inflationary times there is E growing awareness amor“ operators of the importance o total cost of ownership and wi have developed a number o schemes aimed at stabilisim costs.
Our fixed cost Menu Pricim for light vans and Transits am Service Contracts for lorries ha been designed specifically fo the smaller operator who need to know his service costs in ad vance.
Larger operators can benef from our Fleet Parts schem which ensures a reliable suppl of Ford or all-make parts at prE ferential rates. Again, both larg and small fleets can benefit fror our considerable investment i FOCAS — our operating co scheme.
Above all, 1981 will see th introduction of two new prc ducts — the all-new Escort va and a completely new replaci ment for the D-Series. Both ( these vehicles, which form pa of a Balm commercial vehic investment programme, hay been designed from the outs' to achieve the lowest possib operating costs.
Next year could also bring decision on the issue of highi maximum vehicle gros weights. A realistic finding he and the go-ahead for 40 tonr vehicles would give lorry ar trailer manufacturers .a muc needed fillip and give hal pressed hauliers wider opera ing margins.
One thing is for sure; Britain heavily committed to road tran port and once the econon perks up road transport vl bounce back more strongly a capable than before.