"Misleading advertisement"
Page 51
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I WAS APPALLED to see that you carried a most misleading advertisement, placed by Bedford, in your issue of Friday, February 8, 1985. This implied a massive downturn in the sales of commercial vehicles sold by Leyland a position completely the reverse of the truth.
As you will be well aware, the only commercial vehicles marketed under the Leyland name are those trucks produced by my company. Our UK sales performance in Leyland Trucks in 1984 was in fact most encouraging. Sales of Leyland trucks over 3.5 tonnes gross increased to over 7,700 vehicles, further consolidating our already strong position in the sales league, where we were second overall. We in fact led the market in no less than five of the 12 months of 1984 and firmly anticipate improving on this position in 1985.
To date we have never indulged in 'knocking copy', but on this occasion I must point out that, in 1984, Bedford trailed behind Leyland in third place and never once came close to overtaking us.
I am most surprised that such an advertisement should ever have been carried and we are complaining most strongly to the Advertising Standards Authority about it. I sincerely hope that it will not reappear, but trust that you wIl allow me this opportunity of putting the true facts before your readers.
L. M. WHARTON Managing Director Leyland Trucks Preston