Teething Troubles in A.E.C.s Overcome
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'TEETHING troubles arising from the I introduction of the new Reliance and Mercury medium-weight models had now been overcome, Lord Brabazon of Tara, chairman of Associated Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., told shareholders at the annual meeting last week.
The manufacturers had, he .said, gained Wide operating experience with thc new vehicles, for which a ilarge number of orders had been ..receiva The Reliance and .Mercury had first hen introduced on the home market; and they were now to be sold overseas: Orders for chassis were greater than they. were' a year ago, but the group'sbodybuilding Concerns were facing difficulties. The bodybuilding capacity of. the country -.greatly. exceeded the demand and competition was fierce: Overseas , countries, were becoming increasingly disposed to build their own bodywork, although they might be willing to import chassis..
It was hoped that the A.E.C.-Park Royal Monoeoach, 'which wak making a good impression in passenger-transport circles, would do much to maintain the body shops at a reasonable level of
output. The outlook -of the, bodybuilding division was, however, not as encouraging as the chassis manufacturing side. Profits from this section of the business might not be as high as iri the pat few. year. .
Exports last year. were thesame level as in 1953, and in recent Months overseas markets had shown signs of improvement. There was, however, a• possibility that in future, exports would be higher than in the pat year.
Lord Brabazon complained of high taxation, poor roads . and political interferente with. transport....'
It It would; he said be Stimulating to think that the industry would be left alone to get on with its job.
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