0 IPUMM importer SMC Industrial may assemble right-hand-drive versions of the
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Portuguese 4x4 in the UK writes Steve Banner. Currency considerations have prompted the move, says Managing Director Ian Williamson: Sterling's departure from the ERM 14 months ago pushed up the cost of UMMs built at Queluz, near Lisbon.
"We were very severely disadvantaged," Williamson explains. "UMM Alter Hs are still around 21,000 cheaper than the equivalent Land Rover models. We need to be much cheaper than that if we're to increase sales."
In his view, costs could be better contained if parts from other European countries were shipped direct to the UK for assembly rather than transported to Portugal, then re-exported in a built-up vehicle.
Williamson wants to build a new, more attractive model which has been on the drawing board for some time; the Portuguese are apparently in no hurry to produce it because the Alter II sells well worldwide.
However, in Britain barely 500 UMMs have been sold in the last three years. Williamson suspects that its brutal appearance deters potential customers.