20 JUNE 1931, Page 18

THE BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Snt,—The report that American motor car manufacturers are making a bid to buy control of an important British motor company is an excellent testimonial to the progress which the British motor industry is making. In 1927 the United States of America alone sent us 10,000 cars. This year the total imports from all countries for the first four months were only 668.

The explanation undoubtedly is that British manufacturers, having already created for themselves a demand for " baby " and light cars, are now turning out medium-powered, medium:. priced cars with that appearance and feeling of !,` bigness " which has been one of the chief selling points of American cars in the past. Anyone who keeps his eyes open can see them on the roads to-day.

Another instance of the Prince of Wales's keen sense of trade tendencies, and of his instinct for giving help when and where it is most timely, is his use of this type of British car on his South American tour in preference to the high- priced luxury car in the production of which Britain, of course, has never had any difficulty in leading the way.—