TVR moving overseas!

[rcutler]

Another loss of UK Production:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6062084.stm

[hgb]

Damn... I was expecting this at some point.  I feel very sorry for the work force. 
Does anybody know where they're moving to in Europe. I mean, "Europe" is a fairly big place.

[rcutler]

Damn... I was expecting this at some point.  I feel very sorry for the work force. 
Does anybody know where they're moving to in Europe. I mean, "Europe" is a fairly big place.

I can narrow it down to probably being in the EU, Oh yeah that is already rather big too! Probably going to be built by the same nationalities as over here anywhere!

[Andy Zarse]

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. A phrase containing the words elbow and arse springs to mind. The current management have not got the faintest clue how to run a business.

Personally I don't much care for the outlandish and awkward looking modern TVRs but to some folk they are the epitome of a British muscle car. How can TVR make them in Poland or Croatia or wherever and think they'll retain their (rapidly shrinking) loyal customer base who will no doubt defect to cars like Noble/Atom/Lotus/Marcos. I mean how long will it take the reduced labour costs of a firm who make three or four cars a week to break even on the cost of transferring production abroad? It's financial madness, if Blackpool is shut then I really can't see it starting anywhere else. Smolenski can do a nice asset stripping exercise though...

[Paddy_NL]

I think it will mean the end of the magical attraction of TVR. Nobody will ever be convinced enough to buy a sportscar produced in a former East-European country, let alone what the move will do to the value of the brand

[oldtimer]

Nobody will ever be convinced enough to buy a sportscar produced in a former East-European country

Given TVR's legendary unreliability I am amazed anybody is ever convinced enough to buy one... 

[MIKE C (Liverpool Boys)]

The break down service on the M55 will go bust now. They only get that far before they go bang, and they have to cart them back to the factory. But even so it's a great shame, anothere British sports car bites the dust.

[Paddy_NL]

Nobody will ever be convinced enough to buy a sportscar produced in a former East-European country

Given TVR's legendary unreliability I am amazed anybody is ever convinced enough to buy one... 

Just imagine what the move will do then

[hgb]

The horrible thing about this news is that they obviously don't know yet where they will be going. Otherwise they would have announced it. Somewhere in Europe sounds to me as if they don't know yet. This shows to me that they haven't got any new facilities, yet... and any new workers (who have to be trained). If that's the case it surely will take some time to find the place and men to get started again. What about the current production ? I doubt they will finish any car in Blackpool after that announcement. Then, there're the current customers. I would freeze my order if I had a car on order. What about the dealer network ? There's nothing about this in the statement. Oh dear... I think Smolensky fu**ed it up big time. Anyone there with deep pockets ?

[il Cavallino]

That isn't promissing anything good indeed. Really sad that this brand is leaving it's home. This happens to much in automanufacturing and racing. The true passion is lost in this kinds of situations. Really a shame.

[Snoring Rhino]

A non Blackpool built TVR would just be sacrilege. I don’t believe they don’t know where they are moving to, its bound to be an eastern European country where they can re-establish with the lowest overheads, the point that they are missing is that TVR’s are a British Institution  - love them or hate them (I love em). I’m sure they will become like older MG’s - specialist companies will have a good little business keeping them going with spare parts – the dealer networks will just become independents (no much different from now really)
Shame for all the guys being made redundant, many who have been loyal to the company through allsorts of strife.

[Steve Pyro]

As it looks like there's no firm plans for the new manufacturing base, any delay and lack of continuity in supply of new vehicles will seriously dent their customer base and profitability.

The whole thing looks half baked and amateurish - TVR all over really 

[mgmark]

How can TVR make them in Poland or Croatia or wherever

[mgmark]

How can TVR make them in Poland or Croatia or wherever

Would have helped if I had typed before posting!   a guerss would be because the owner is Russian and the labour costs in that neck of "europe" would make it viable more profitable....

MG Mark

[Nobby Diesel]

It's being reported this morning that production will move to Italy and be overseen by Bertone.
I can't see that myself.
Slovakia/Poland/Hungary more likely in my opinion.