Autocar Interview

[PetrolTed]

Good piece by Steve Cropley in Autocar today.

Reiterates the stuff about only 500 of each model to be made. Apparently the Tamora and T350C only have 100 left

Can't say I understand this strategy.

They want to produce 2000 cars a year. They want to produce only 500 of each car.

That means 4 new models every year - or am I being thick?

[bennno]

to do with exemption rules, my t350 came with an SVA certificate.

any more than 500 and they need to fit an airbag and abs.

trick is to keep modifying and changing the name of the model.

in the long term a finate build run might be a positive thing to motivate buyers.

bennno

[squirrelz]

I think the restriction is 500 per year, so they can produce 500 Tamoras per year, 500 Tuscans per year etc.

[simon@63]

And ending contracts with foreign suppliers so that every part of TVR is 'Made in Britain'.

So much for the Eastern European factories forecast by some doomsayers

[PetrolTed]

I was aware of the 500 per year restriction but that's no reason to stop production after a year. They didn't do that with the Chimaera. Seems silly to kill off a car that's selling well.

[andyvdg]

Isn't the current production nearer 1000 ? I presume they currently consider a Tuscan and a Tuscan S to be two different models. Extending that thinking to the whole range they have 8 different models. Also does the SVA only apply to this country ? Could they export 1000 cars that don't count towards the UKs SVA limit ?

btw I didn't realise that cars had to have either airbags or antilock brakes in the UK.

Cheers,

Andy.

Editted to say - you can buy a brand new Arosa without anitlock or airbags.

Also I think the 500 limit is per model not per year - it's to keep residuals up - backed up by price and quality increases.

>> Edited by andyvdg on Tuesday 21st September 11:12

[PetrolTed]

The anti-lock brake requirement is coming but isn't in place yet as far I as I know.

[andyvdg]

...and wasn't the SVA supposed to be lowered to 50 cars by now but was held off...

[simon@63]

PetrolTed said:

I was aware of the 500 per year restriction but that's no reason to stop production after a year. They didn't do that with the Chimaera. Seems silly to kill off a car that's selling well.

T350s been coming off the production line since early 2003 and looks like finishing early 2005.

So should be more like somewhere between 2-3 years production for each model?

Also supported by Autocar's guesstimate of 500-600 (split between 2 or 3 models) cars produced p.a.

[joust]

andyvdg said:

...and wasn't the SVA supposed to be lowered to 50 cars by now but was held off...

Nope.

Low volume is defined in SVA terms

Vehicle manufactured in very low volume
A vehicle of a type, of which a manufacturer
can build (world-wide), up to 200 vehicles of that “family of types” (or up to 20 of that “type
variant” ) within any 12 month period within the 36 months prior to the month of manufacturer of
the vehicle.

However, you can also apply under the R(ESVA) where you need to do an "Enhanced SVA (ESVA) test", and I don't think there is a limit on that.

Couple that with in 2000 the limits were lifted I'm not 100% sure what the limits are, but they aren't as low as that.

See www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/publications/sva%20newsletter%20-%20august%202000.pdf for the 2000 lifiting of limits.

Fathom that lot out if you will!

J

[jayjay]

I thought the TVRCC said they had an "exclusive"?

[DanH]

simon@63 said:

And ending contracts with foreign suppliers so that every part of TVR is 'Made in Britain'. So much for the Eastern European factories forecast by some doomsayers

Whats good about having parts manufactured in the UK? Large amounts of British industry are expensive & poor quality.

Maybe I'm just lacking in national pride...

[Ahonen]

DanH said:

Whats good about having parts manufactured in the UK? Large amounts of British industry are expensive & poor quality. Maybe I'm just lacking in national pride...

The quality of certain Indian parts was somewhat questionable - but they were cheap, like the budgie, which is why those suppliers were selected...

[jamesc]

PetrolTed said:

Good piece by Steve Cropley in Autocar today. Reiterates the stuff about only 500 of each model to be made. Apparently the Tamora and T350C only have 100 left Can't say I understand this strategy. They want to produce 2000 cars a year. They want to produce only 500 of each car. That means 4 new models every year - or am I being thick?

500 "Pistonheads" TVR S3 limited editions!

[Ballistic]

Anyone got any idea when the supposed improvements in quality will start to be reflected in new customer cars?

[manek]

Ahonen said:

DanH said: Whats good about having parts manufactured in the UK? Large amounts of British industry are expensive & poor quality. Maybe I'm just lacking in national pride... The quality of certain Indian parts was somewhat questionable - but they were cheap, like the budgie, which is why those suppliers were selected...

As I read it, the motivation is more about being able to say that the cars are all-British. I'm with you DanH -- don't care where they're made as long as they work...

[manek]

In fact, would it be useful if I ran a summary of the interview in tomorrow's news so we can at least discuss it from a common knowledge base?

[the dodger]

PetrolTed said:

The anti-lock brake requirement is coming but isn't in place yet as far I as I know.

Since July this year it has been mandatory for all new cars sold in Britain to have anti-lock brakes. This obviously does not include TVR etc who have exemptions because of low volume and SVA approval.

Certainly the lowly Ford KA now has ABS. Don't know how the Arosa (SEAT?) gets away with it.

[manek]

I'll do what I can...