Renault buys all Karrier
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KARRIER MOTORS, the Dodge/ Renault commercial vehicle company in Britain, will become a wholly-owned Renault subsidiary by the end of this year.
Karrier chairman Laurent Brisset announced this last week when the company's Birmingham parts centre was opened, saying that the mutual acquisition clause signed by Renault and Talbot would be exercised earlier than was first expected.
It has always been intended that Renault would acquire Talbot's 50 per cent share in the presently loss-making company, and Renault has managed it since its formation. But the decision to buy out before the expected return to profit next year is a surprise.
Apparently, Talbot's Peugeot parent company needs French Government aid, and stateowned Renault's purchase of Karrier and its Spanish Hispavinsa sister enterprise is one way of achieving this.
The Elmdon parts centre (CM, February 26) is being brought on stream to meet Karrier dealers' demands for a more effective spare parts service, and priority is being given to the transfer of Dodge parts from Talbot's carbased centre at Dunstable.
Renault parts will be moved from its Manchester centre towards the end of the year, and a service exchange scheme for a wide range of units will be in operation by June, again meeting strong dealer demand for improved back-up.
Renault's car division will continue to handle parts supply for Trafic and Master vans, even though some Karrier dealers are to sell Masters and others are likely to have less formal arrangements for Trafic.