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