Commercial vehicle demand soars
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• Britain's lorry manufacturers are selling every lorry they can turn out. Their order books have rarely looked better.
But makers claim that strikes and industrial disputes are strangling supplies and holding up production. And while they battle with the unions, foreign makers like Volvo and Scania are taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their share of the British market.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders this week show that for the first three months of this year, foreign imports took nearly 16 per cent of the UK market. This was against less than 10 per cent over the same period last year. Last month, imports accounted for nearly 20 per cent of deliveries.
A quick look at the British makers shows British Leyland — who have between a quarter and half of the UK market — with full order books.
York Trailers doubled their profits in the second half of last year to £667,000. Estimates are that ERF should finish close to 1971's record of £915,000.
The confidence of manufacturers for increased demand for British lorries was shown last week when Vauxhall decided to spend £25m expanding its Bedford division.