By Jingo!
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Hauliers like Leyland speech
A RARE standing ovation: greeted Robin Woolcock, operations director, UK, Leyland Trucks, after he had delivered a spirited speech in Portugal this week.
He analysed the decline of UK truck makers and said that hauliers should go back to buying Leyland.
Woolcock asked why Continentals are so dominating in their home markets, but UK makers are not. "Could it have something to do with nationalism, or a pride in the local product?" he asked, adding that it seemed to be unfortunately part of the British character to do the opposite — "to knock first and revere anything imported.
"Competitiveness has been hit by high British inflation and unfavourable exchange rates.
"But since 1979 a £350 million investment has brought wholesale improvements at Leyland and the company is an attractive buy for the first time for many years. It has a competitive product range; an advanced manufacturing plant; some of the best research facilities in Europe; and a 24 hour vehicle-off-the-road parts delivery service for customers," he claimed: He said that a new sense of realism and commitment throughout the company was demonstrated four weeks ago when hourly-paid employees agreed to a four per cent pay deal "quietly and quickly".
"We are the only truck manufacturer • .tO have intioduced. a complete range of trucks in the Eighties. There is at least one UK truck manufacturer who is fighting back for Britain," he said.
"There is no longer any need for you to buy foreign," he reiterated. "We have everything they offer, and more."
One haulier afterwards commented: "If that is from the top to the bottom in British Leyland, then we are going somewhere."