Ford, Britain"s market...
Ford, Britain"s market leader (in sales, at least), has already done that. And if you look at the sheer size of the GM empire, do you really see it having any loyalty to Vauxhall"s Luton and Ellesmere Port plants? Or the brand, come to that? And could the same rules apply one day in the future to blue oval-owned Jaguar and Land Rover? Only Bill Ford at world HQ in Dearborn, USA, knows for sure. But I know this: the Eastern bloc has taken over from Britain as the number one location in Europe for big, ambitious companies to set up shop if they"re looking for a friendly pro-car welcome, low-tax Governments and capable, willing workers.
Car sales in 2006 were...
Car sales in 2006 were down 3.9 per cent on the previous year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
By the end of the year, 2,344,864 models had been registered, and uncertainty over interest rates and fuel price fluctuations are being blamed. Top seller for 2006 was Ford"s Focus (137,694), followed by the Vauxhall Astra (105,296) and Ford Fiesta (103,856).