BRITISH MOTOR TRADE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 28 July 1933, Page 7

BRITISH MOTOR TRADE.

INCREASE OF EXPORTS. ENCOURAGING REPORTS. The British motor industry saw the close of 1932 with justifiable feelings of satisfaction at progress made, and with an optimistic outlook as to future possibilities, says the April-June bulletin issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, London. It had seen its exports increase during the year by no less than £700.000, and had reason to feel that its struggle to rehabilitate itself in the motor markets of the world was at last bringing definite results. j The present year therefore opened with the British manufacturers facing the future with confidence and determination to leave no stone unturned to place their industry in a position of pre-eminence, and the opening months have seen the advance continued, indeed, the total of British motor exports for the first quarter of the current year l £2,556,374) was the highest for the similar period of any year since 1927. During the four months to the end of April the number of cars exported has reached 12,819 (value £1,631,122), whilst for the same period last year the figures were 8771 (value £1,082,576). Imports. Although the numbers of cars imported during the opening months of this year have increased, the total gross imports of motor products continue to decrease, the figures for the period under review being £767,158, as compared with £1,053,889 for the corresponding period of 1932. Excess of exports over imports continues a most encouraging feature. From all parts of the world come reports of the steady progress being made by the British motor vehicle. In New Zealand, imports of cars and chassis from Great Britain during 1932 were 2537, or 83.34 per cent, of the total car imports, as compared with a British percentage of 71.22 in 1931, and 23.83 in 1930. Registrations of British vehicles have risen from 22.32 per cent, in 1930 to 62.54 per cent, in 1932. In Australia, during the first quarter of 1933, registration of British vehicles numbered 1448 out of a total of 3080 (or 47 per cent). In Ceylon, out of about 14,000 vehicels on the road at the end of 1932, more than 5000 were of British origin, while the figures for new registrations there during the last quarter of 1932 show that, of 286 cars registered, 258 (or 90 per cent.) were British. One manufacturer reports that for the nine months of his present season his percentage increases have risen by 40 per cent, in North Africa and West Asia; by 54 per cent, in Europe, and by 33 per cent, in the Fax East. The classic Italian 1000 mile road race, the fastest in the world, was the occasion for a notable triumph for British cars, two out of the three M.G. Magnettes finishing first and second in their class, and carrying off the team prize. Following as this does on the success of British cars in the international alpine trial of 1932, it is hardly a matter of wonder that Europe is taking growing interest in the British motor vehicle, and British manufacturers are exploring the potentialities offered in Continental markets. Altogether, a most promising start, and one that should lead to even greater British progress in the future.