IT’S great to see how successful the Mini has been, but what a pity that this success has been down to a German company, something that emphasises how bad British management was.

I remember an American businessman saying that the trouble with British industry is that it is run by accountants and not by engineers and salesmen. It’s also a pity that the Morris Motors site was sold, leaving just the Pressed Steel site for the manufacture of the Mini.

Oxford Mail:

 Tom Bradford, Mini body shop production manager and the award winning model

Had some of the Morris Motors ground remained, it might have allowed the Mini plant to expand and make the opening of another plant in Holland unnecessary.

It’s somewhat ironic that BMW has made a success with Rolls Royce cars as well, when, in my mind, BMW is associated with wartime aero engines, although, not really in competition with Rolls Royce aero engines. That was down to Junkers and Daimler-Benz. To add further insult to injury, created by Rover, India is now the proud owner of Jaguar-Land Rover.

DERRICK HOLT

Fortnam Close

Headington

Oxford

Today’s letters

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