The Rise and Decline of the British Motor Industry [Paperback]

A concise 1995 review of the strengths and weaknesses of the British motor industry during the one hundred years since its foundation.Placing the industry firmly in a European context, this text assesses the British motor industry's achievements before 1960, and then tests the various explanations that have been offered to explain its decline. It examines the role of government, the trade unions, management and the multinationals.Placing the industry firmly in a European context, this text assesses the British motor industry's achievements before 1960, and then tests the various explanations that have been offered to explain its decline. It examines the role of government, the trade unions, management and the multinationals.This book is a concise and lucid review of the strengths and weaknesses of the British motor industry during the one hundred years since its foundation. Placing the industry firmly in a European context, the author first assesses its achievements before 1960, and then tests the various explanations that have been offered to explain its decline in the past thirty years. He examines the role of government, of the trade unions, of management and of the multinationals, all of which have been seen as major players in the industry's demise.Acknowledgements; Themes; Part I. The Origins of British Pre-eminence in Europe: 1. The rise of the British motor industry before 1914; 2. War and its aftermath: gains and losses; 3. The framework of protection: demand at home and overseas; 4. Fordism and the British system; 5. The dynamics and limitations of 'personal capitalism'; 6. Fordism and the British approach to markets and marketing; 7. Debilitating environment: structures and strategies; Part II. The Roots of Decline: 8. Postwar pre-eminence: attainment and erosion; 9. Private investment and public policies: government and industry; 10. Manufacturing systems: management and labour; 11. The role of organised labour: strikes and productivity; 12. Industrial rlóP