BRITISH MOTOR CARS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 7 January 1931, Page 5

BRITISH MOTOR CARS

ASSE-MBLING IN NEW ZEALAND

LONDON, 21st November. The “Garage and Motor Agent” calls attention to the report which appeared in English newspapers that owing to the increased tariff on American motor vehicles shipped to New Zealand ‘ via Canada, coupled with the growing demand for British cars, the General Motors factory at Wellington would shortly be devoted to the production of Vauxhalls and Chevrolets from parts imported from England. The assembling locally of Buicks, Oaklands, Pontiacs, and Oidsmobiles would, the report added, be discontinued, although a few of these cal’s might be imported complete. Following on the publication of this statement numerous enquiries by newspapers were made at the offices of General Motors, Hendon, for confirmation or refutation of the report. Mr C. J. Bartlett, managing director of General Motors, Ltd., has, to clear up the position, now issued an explanation to this effect: — “It is quite true that, if our plans go well, our New Zealand factory will be engaged more on producing and assembling Vauxhalls than on Ameri- • can cars, which have predominated up to now. To General Motors Corporation, as an international organisation,- this is a mere matter of economics. If a British car in the ‘family’ can be built more successfully in any market than an American car, the whole strength of the organisation will be placed at the disposal of the British factory. “The intention is to manufacture at Luton components of the new small Vauxhall for assembly and building abroad—and it is a practical commentary on our present taxation system that we find ourselves forced to buld all larger car for, overseas A than we can market here, so weaken- -> ing cost and production advantages of of concentrating on one model. “Truck components will also later be manufactured at Luton for assembly in other countries. There is every indication that we are at the starting point of a large export ti’ade in British cars and trucks from Luton.”