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Showing posts with label Other Than Car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Other Than Car. Show all posts


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

UK CV Production: 1969-2011


Just to add something different into the car theme, NZ motor bike sales for over 50cc capacity are listed here. There isn't a massive market for bikes here but they have a loyal following. I expected Japanese brands to dominate but a US and a UK brand to be 2nd and 3rd is surprising.
1 Suzuki 851 21.3%
2 Harley Davidson 533 13.3%
3 Triumph 519 13.0%
4 Honda 422 10.6%
5 Kawasaki 293 7.3%
6 Yamaha 273 6.8%
7 BMW 156 3.9%
8 Hyosung 150 3.8%
9 Ducati 114 2.9%
9 KTM 114 2.9%
Others 573
Total 3,998

Data Source: Thanks to MIA and www.autotalk.co.nz

Motor Bike Sales NZ (over 50cc): 2012


I noticed in NZ vehicle statistics that Alexander Dennis (ADL) has been selling buses here. I got to wondering about the company. It is a British bus making firm with plants in Falkirk, Scarborough and Guildford. They build buses in the US and soon will be in Canada. Buses are assembled in China and New Zealand also. They are popular in markets such as Hong Kong where double decker buses are so practical. In fact they are such an efficient way of transporting more people, I assume access limitations due to height as the only issue that could limit them in some situations. Having used them in the UK when visiting, I enjoyed the commanding view from upstairs.


In the UK for the first three months of 2015, according to SMMT data ADL sold just over 350 buses for nearly one third of the total UK bus market. Obviously the bus market isn't big in volumes but that is an impressive percentage.

ADL are strong in the UK, North America and Asia but surprisingly not so in Europe. Perhaps an area for growth in the future for the company.

Photos from: ADL

Alexander Dennis Bus Company


I was just talking to a lorry driver who goes between Picton and Christchurch, NZ. That is nearly 350 kms (just over 200 miles). North Island drivers deliver their load to the ferry in Wellington, it crosses the strait and another driver takes it south. In this way the driver stays on his home island and time isn't wasted on a ferry.

If you have ever driven in New Zealand you will know the country isn't connected by motorways, but everyday roads, often quite twisty. As the road south from Picton approaches Kaikoura, there are some narrow tunnels. For a large lorry to enter them, they have a to take a wide berth to enter the tunnel straight. There are signs saying 'No Overtaking' the truck as he attempts this manoeuvre. The driver was telling me that cars still do and he has to watch out and often brake to avoid squashing them against a wall.

He also said the the truck speed is monitored in various ways and for example, if they enter a 50kmph (30mph) zone, from a higher speed, the lorry has to be doing the 50 when they reach the sign. If he doesn't do that then he incurs demerit points as it will be detected. Many car drivers flash their lights and honk their horns in anger at the truck driver for slowing too soon, in their opinion.

In behalf of these fine professional drivers, I would like to say something. If you are the sort to try to overtake large vehicles without due care, do you want to be scrapped off a wall or road by emergency services? If you honk and flash your lights because the vehicle in front slows to the speed limit as it is entering a town, who do you think you are? For such drivers, the sooner self-drive cars come the better, because you are not wanted on the road driving yourself. You should be driven by Google. Why? Because a mindless machine could drive so much better than your egotistical efforts.

They know what they are doing. Do you?
For all others (and I assume you are the majority), well done for your patience and your understanding that professional drivers go as fast as they can safely. You realise that getting to your destination relaxed and safe is more important than a few minutes saved. Also a big thank you to the lorry drivers for the quality of your work and for putting up with poor car drivers and still being so obliging to other road users.

Lorry (Truck) Drivers

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