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MAN plays its ace
Page 11
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AS THE BATTLE for the 0.5bn deal to provide the British army with its general cargo trucks over the next three decades enters its final stages, previous dark horse MAN has revealed what may be its trump card.
MAN GB managing director Dr Jurgen Knorpp has unveiled his company's plans to make the deal more attractive to the British government.
As well as having what it believes to be the best product. MAN promises a high level of UK content through its planned assembly at the ERF plant in Middlewich and via its specialist equipment partners.
However, what may turn out to be the key factor revolves around the Austrian home of MAN's military division and the British government's obligation to offset the Austrian purchase of 18 Eurofighter Typhoons, in which the UK's BAe is a partner.
In effect, the UK is committed to spend £2 with Austria for every Ll Austria is spending on the aircraft, or to transfer the equivalent of 10,000 manyears of production to Austria.
Giving the contract to MAN would give the UK an ideal opportunity to repay a significant chunk of this commitment.
• CM has driven MAN's contender: see next week's issue for our impressions.