UK CV Production: 1969-2011

The UK car industry suffered as did much UK industry in latter decades of the 20th century. The car making sector rallied thanks to overseas investment, and other areas such as car design got a reprieve. The effect on the economy was most beneficial, from taxes generated to the trickle down effect to suppliers and ultimately all businesses.

However, CV (commercial vehicle) manufacturing wasn't so fortunate. Van production has fallen away badly, and many truck brands have gone - some bought out by foreign companies and closed. So how did CV production fare in the time frame from 1969 to today? The list below shows:

Make	1969	Make	1979	Make	1989
BLMC	185,400	Ford	167,200	Ford	144,000
Ford	137,000	BLMC	124,700	GM	67,200
GM	102,500	GM	87,700	Rover	44,800
Chrysler	31,900	Ren (Chr)	17,600	Ley-DAF	38,300
				Iveco	14,900
Others	8,900	Others	9,200	Others	17,400
Total	465,700	Total	408,400	Total	326,600

Make	1999	Make	2011
Ford	118,300	GM-Ren	73,100
Rover	24,200	Ford	28,200
LDV	13,700	Ley-DAF	14,600
GM	13,300
Ley-DAF	8,100
Others	8,300	Others	5,400
Total	185,900	Total	121,300

With Ford quitting its van production, it will be down to two makers of any consequence. Ownership of many companies has changed so I have tried to keep it as simple as possible. The point is the slide of volume . With GM never guaranteeing anything beyond the current model, and any future investment of note impossible to see this is as good as it will get. I guess the positive note is the car industry could have gone the same way but didn't.

Bedford truck picture source: click here
Ford Transit picture source: click here
Leyland-DAF picture source: click here
GM Vivaro picture source: click here