Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4104 Location: South Cheshire

Whilst we may have a pop at the decline of the English motor industries from its heyday of the mid 60's other countries have fared worse, by way of an example the Columbia brand founded in 1899 is now defunct. Swedish brands like Saab have disappeared, Volvo still exists but who knows how it will all play out?

Dave

Rootes75 · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 9:39 am Post subject:

Who owns Volvo now? Isn't it Ford?
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2467 Location: South Cheshire

Certainly was Ford at one point, their PAG (Premier Automotive Group) was Volvo, Land Rover / Range Rover and Aston Martin, I think.

V8 Nutter · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 587

I am not sure but I think Volvo is now owned by a Chinese company. The American motor industry has suffered badly. In the mid 60's Chevrolet and Ford were producing about 2 million vehicles a year. They are down to about half that now. Pontiac Oldsmobile and Mercury have gone. Chrysler could be next.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands

Ellis · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:35 pm Post subject:

What seems ironic to me is that it appears that the motor industries of France and Germany seem buoyant, thriving even.
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

mikeC · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 4:48 pm Post subject:

The British Motor Industry is buoyant and thriving; it's just that it is owned by Japanese, German and Chinese! I agree it is interesting that the German, French and Italian manufacturers are still largely owned by native organisations, though.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1950 Location: East Yorkshire

My [jaundiced] view?

Manufacturing, in itself, is a declining industry for this country....we just aren't cheap enough.

However, where we do excel, is in research & development.

Plus, niche, bespoke [almost] creation. [Morgan et al?]

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 11:18 am Post subject:

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6304 Location: Derby

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

I think we must be "cheap enough" because I believe Nissan’s Sunderland plant is their most efficient. We’re also back to making as many cars as we did at the peak of the seventies.

If anything we suffer from a lack of confidence from home investors, so most of our best companies tend to get bought by overseas companies.

It’s both easy and misinformed to suggests that bosses are greedy or overpaid. The truth is that their employment contracts are brutal and they’re paid on the basis of the results they achieve or booted out, but protected by employment law. They have to work much harder than most of us ever did to justify their earnings.

If you’re worried about excessive wages, greed and the rest of it, then look no further than the public sector where from the BBC to the Universities and local councils, they seem insane to me, especially as we’re forced to pay them.

Even ridiculously overpaid footballers are taking are only taking a share of honestly made profits.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6304 Location: Derby

I wonder if there is any real threat from Jaguar/LandRover to upticks if the Govt. doesn't get the deal that suits them? I am rather ambivalent regarding all the political shenanigans around Brexit and if May comes away with a bad deal I would imagine it will be as much the fault of the E.U, as her negotiating team. That said, if Tata pull out it would be interesting to see who buys their plants here.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6304 Location: Derby

Is it possible that - despite what we might imagine these high powered car company bosses should know - they are actually not in possession of the full facts? Many of these people are so enveloped in the business of building and marketing cars they may mistakenly believe that somehow they will be stopped from trading with European Countries if we are no longer members of the single market?

The other night I heard a Land Rover spokesman say they "needed access to the single market".. Of course they do - and no one is saying they will be denied access. The only difference will be if we leave the E.U without a free trade deal, they may have to pay some tariffs should the E.U. be so unwise as to impose them.

A price adjustment is not something that has frightened customers away in the past. You only have to look at the obscene price of a new Jag or Range Rover these days to realise that to most of their customers price is not a major barrier.