BL into Rhodesia
Page 18
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BRITISH LEYLAND is taking steps to re-open its assembly plant in Southern Rhodesia following the lifting of sanedons.
Production of Leyland cars and commercial vehicles ceased after Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence in 1965. The plant, which is controlled by BL International Ltd, has since been maintained by local management on a care and maintenance basis, just kept operative although no Leyland products have been assembled.
Leyland believes that the lines still exist very much as they did in 1965, before British Leyland was formed. At that time the Rhodesian plants assembled Leyland lorries and buses, Standard Triumph, BMC and Rover cars.
A study team from Britain is going out to Southern Rhodesia to collect information and plan the resumption of production. It is expected that the commercial vehicle plant at Umtali will be the first to open, producing buses, commercial vehicles and Land-Rovers from ckd kits.