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UK CV makers hard at work

31st July 2003, Page 20
31st July 2003
Page 20
Page 20, 31st July 2003 — UK CV makers hard at work
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by Colin Barnett The Office for National Statistics is once again broadcasting the rise of UK commercial vehicle production. its latest figures, for June, show an increase of 47.3% on the same month in 2002, while the first half of 2003 is up 1.6% over 2002.

This prompted CM to take a closer look at recent years to see the state of UK CV manufacturing. Everyone 'knows' that the CV manufacturing industry is but a shadow of its former sail', but our research shows that that view is far from the full truth. Over the past eight years, the busiest year was 238,314 in 1996, dropping to 172,440 in 2000. Since ther though, the total has recovered to the point where 200,000 units for 2003 is a reasonable expectation.

Obviously, vans up to 3.5-tonnes GVW account for the largest proportion of output, and there have been some high-profile departures from the UK, most notably the loss of Ford's light van production to Turkey.

Van production is slightly more polarised than it was in 1995; today's principal players are Ford, with Southampton-built Transits, LDV in Birmingham and Vauxhall, with Astravans at Ellesmere Port. The latter also jointly hosts the Luton IBC venture with Renault to build the Vivaro/Trafic family.

While UK van production has stayed reasonably visible, casual observers may guess that the production of heavier trucks

had all but ended, with ERF and Seddon Atkinson being the most recent casualties. But in reality, thanks mainly to Paccar's production of Daf and Foden at Leyland Trucks, UK production in 2002 was still well over half of its 1995 level. One sector, rigids over 7.5 tonnes, has actually shown an increase year on year since 999.

And the British tradition for specialist output continues, led by fire and municipal specialist Dennis Eagle.

Our survey shows that while British truck building is undeniably less heaithy than it once was, rumours of its death have been greatly exaggerated,