Britain Aiming At Lower Prices For Motor Cars

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26958, 18 December 1948, Page 9

Britain Aiming At Lower Prices For Motor Cars

LONDON, Dec. 10. Measures announced by the Ministry of Supply to improve methods in the United Kingdom motor car industry are aimed at bringing about lower selling prices. Mr Strauss, the Minister of Supply, stated that advances will be achieved in two ways, the first of which is the free exchange of ideas and methods aimed to increase productivity. To this end all United Kingdom car and commercial vehicle manufacturers agree to make available to the 600 member firms of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for inspection not only their factory premises and plant but also their technical administrative resources such as drawings, operation sheets, and details of jigs and tools. Factory planning staffs will be made available to help and supplies of materials and components. The second part of the plan is increased standardisation and this will be confined at first to the “ Big Six Austin, Nuffield, Rootes, Vauxhall, Standard and Ford. These firms are to take immediate steps to accelerate the use of common accessories and components and generally to improve the whole process of standardisation. Monthly meetings will be held at various factories, in turn presided over by the head of the factory at which the meeting is held. This standardisation plan is at present being confined to the “Big Six” for the sake of swift committee action and because they are responsible for some nine-tenths of the total output of cars. In a recent speech Mr Strauss declared: “My aim is greater efficiency throughout the engineering industries. The motor industry has taken the lead. We want the rest to follow.”