Big truck boom will run and run
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• The Western European truck industry has bounced back from the recession of the early eighties to a new prosperity, and those manufacturers which survived are leaner and fitter, says a report out this month.
With no immediate likelihood of a recovery of exports to the Middle East and Africa, success in Western Europe is crucial to every manufacturer. The struggle for market share is intense and the greatest rewards are going to companies which have invested in better products and marketing.
The report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, The Truck Industries of Western Europe — Preparing for the 1990s, adds that current buoyant market conditions are due to the high level of fleet replacements taking place. This is slowing down, however, and demand will ea! from 275,000 units in 1987 to 265,000 in 1990. The coming of European free trade in 199 should then push it back to 290,000 by 1993.
High competition among hauliers will encourage them 1 select trucks from rnanufactur ers offering "the best package", in terms of specification product reliability and international service back-up. The need for producers to have a full marketing and service net work throughout Europe cord leave smaller manufacturers vulnerable and lead to fewer but stronger truck companies The West German, Swedis and Italian haulage industries are all likely to expand, says the report.