Open van market for EC
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A new agreement between the EC and Japan about the number of Japanese vehicles sold in Europe could affect light commercials in the UK.
The deal, which covers a seven-year transitional period from 1993, allows unrestricted sales of any vehicle (including Japanese) produced within the EC. Fixed limits will remain on imports from Japan until the year 2000, when a free market comes into effect.
The major development is that for the first time the agreement groups light commercials up to 5.0 tonnes GVW with cars — the UK "gentlemen's agreement" on imports excludes them.
Japanese importers will still be restricted in the number of vehicles they can bring into the UK (the level is set at about 8% of the market), so they must now choose whether to make up their quota with light commercials or stick with more profitable cars.
It remains to be seen whether the number of van imports will change when the lid comes off production within the EC.
Toyota says it would not desert its T.CV customers and may
even extend its range to bring in larger LCVs; Nissan will continue to concentrate its efforts on cars; and Mitsubishi points out that although its quota was cut this year because of the declining market, it could have sold as many vehicles as it did in 1990.