The Enduring Legacy of Foreign Car Makers in the UK
Britain's Tale: Manufacturing Foreign Vehicles Across the Seas
In defiance of popular belief, the United Kingdom boasts a robust and resilient automotive industry. With four major brands - JLR, MINI, Toyota, and Nissan - still churning out cars domestically, the UK continues to be a specialist powerhouse in car manufacturing and motorsport.
Once-renowned American names, Ford, and Vauxhall, that are widely considered British, discontinued their production in 2002 and 2022, respectively. Nevertheless, the blueprint and works of these companies continue, with engines and gearboxes still rolling off the assembly lines in Dagenham and Halewood under the Ford moniker, and Griffin-badged vans from Ellesmere Port and Luton making their way out to the dealerships.
Tracing back the annals of time, even to 1911, Trafford Park in Manchester became the first foreign plant outside the United States to manufacture the Model T. Despite its humble beginnings, the plant swiftly began production in quantity, with a substantial proportion of British components. As foreign marques observed the success of the Model T, they saw an opportunity to stake their claim in Britain's booming car market.
Citroën in the UK: A Brief History
One such marque was Citroën, which, by 1919, had established a significant car manufacturing presence in the UK. With its ambitious export plans and a vision to avoid import taxes, Citroën decided to build cars on British soil. In 1926, they opened a manufacturing facility in Slough on a 60-acre site, equipped with a moving chain conveyor assembly line and paint and spray booths.
Initially importing components, up to 5,000 Britons were employed in the factory producing a variety of Citroën models, including the Traction Avant, 2CV, Bijou, Ami 6, and ID/D Series. Despite reaching its peak employment, Citroën's UK production ceased in 1965, with the DS21 being the last car rolling off the assembly line. The Slough factory was repurposed as a parts, publicity, and training center for Citroën UK until 1974.
The British Assembly of Isetta: A Fiscally-Savvy Move
In 1957, the Isetta, a quirky and economical Italian three-wheeled microcar, found little success in the UK. However, post-war motorists were eager for affordable transportation. With three-wheelers exempt from import tariffs, Isetta of Great Britain Limited saw an opportunity and licensed the manufacturing rights from BMW.
Transforming a former British Railways service depot in Brighton into a factory in less than a month, Isetta of Great Britain Limited began producing the Isetta for the UK market. The factory sourced engines, gearboxes, and body panels from Germany, while locally-sourced electrics, running gear, and tyres deployed the ingenuity of British manufacturers.
Despite production only lasting until 1964, the British assembly of Isetta served as a cost-effective solution for British motorists, offering fiscally-sound transportation amid the taxation woes of the time.
A British Era of French Manufacturing: PSA Group (Peugeot)
UK soil also saw the footprint of French manufacturers, with Peugeot establishing its presence in Coventry for 28 years, from 1978. The Ryton-on-Dunsmore factory, which once belonged to Chrysler Europe, was the ideal base for manufacturing right-hand-drive models.
The 205, 309, 405, 306, 206, and 207 were all produced in Ryton, with Peugeot's TU, XU, and XUD engines maturing in the heart of the factory. Despite reaching the peak of its capacity and shuttering its doors in 2006, the Ryton factory left an indelible mark on British soil as a production hub for iconic Peugeot models.
Honda's Collaborative Venture in the UK
Japanese marque Honda began its collaborative venture in the UK in 1985, establishing the Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) plant in Swindon, initially producing engines. HUM expanded its operations in 1992, commencing full-scale car production with the Accord, followed by the Civic, CR-V, and Jazz.
In 1993, Project Synchro, better known as the Rover 600, began production in Cowley, a joint venture with Rover Group. Post-Brexit trading concerns led to the closure of HUM's Swindon plant in 2021, as Honda shifted manufacturing back to Japan and other global facilities.
Nissan's Success in the UK
Nissan joined the ranks of foreign car manufacturers in the UK in 1984, setting up shop in Washington. Choosing a location strategically situated near the Port of Tyne, Nissan could access both the UK market and the European market efficiently. The Washington plant, which initially produced the Bluebird, has since gone on to manufacture the Primera, Micra, Note, and Qashqai, maintaining high productivity and efficiency levels.
The electric Leaf and its lithium-ion batteries are also produced in Washington, ensuring the plant's resilience in the face of economic fluctuations and evolving technological trends.
Toyota's Enduring Relationship with the UK
Toyota, the last of the big three Japanese manufacturers to establish a presence in the UK, opened manufacturing facilities in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and Deeside, Flintshire, in 1992 and 1992, respectively. The Burnaston plant now produces the Corolla, while the Deeside plant focuses on engine production. Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Toyota denies any plans to abandon the UK, emphasizing its commitment to manufacturing on British soil.
In conclusion, the legacy of foreign car manufacturers in the UK is a complex tapestry of investment, adaptation, and change. Remaining manufacturers like JLR, MINI, Toyota, and Nissan continue to thrive in the UK, while historic partnerships like those between Honda and Rover Group, and Toyota and British Leyland, leave an indelible impact on the industry. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen which manufacturers will continue to call the UK home.
In the realm of finance and technology, it is worth noting that the success of foreign car manufacturers in the UK extends beyond the production of cars. For instance, the British Assembly of Isetta was a fiscally-savvy move that capitalized on the British manufacturing ingenuity while leveraging the tax benefits of three-wheeled vehicles. Similarly, the Japanese automaker Honda, in its collaborative venture in the UK, used technology and strategic partnerships to expand its operations from engine production to full-scale car manufacturing. These examples illustrate how the intersection of finance and technology played a significant role in the growth and evolution of foreign car manufacturing in the UK.
