Imports boom in U.K.

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33384, 16 November 1973, Page 12

Imports boom in U.K.

Nearly half the new cars sold in Britain to private buyers are now imported models, it has been reported. The official figure for the penetration of the British new-car market by foreign brands is about 27 per cent, but this figure includes all the major “fleet car’’ operators, nearly all of whom buy British cars. When the company cars are removed from the total, the balance between British and imported sales is almost half and half. Official confirmation of the situation is not readily forthcoming from the British motor trade, John

Langley reports in the “Daily Telegraph.” But British car makers are showing concern at their inability to meet the demand in their home market, he writes. They need to increase production, but efforts in this direction have been frustrated by industrial unrest. Langley says that official figures show that 26.7 per cent of the 1.2 million new cars registered in Britain in the first eight months of this year were imports. But about 40 per cent of all new cars were sold to company users and hire firms. About two years ago, when imports comprised about 20 per cent of total British market sales, an executive estimated that the

e imported share of the private market was about 35 s per cent, and this supports ,t the view that the figure is e now closer to 50 per cent, ■- Langley writes. d The leading car importer it in Britain is now Datsun, a which holds about 4.7 per i- cent of the total British market compared with the il 4.03 per cent held by r Renault, which is second v on the list.