Will TVR Die!? Noooo....

[Rogue Ssv]

TVR Closes
Fate remains undetermined

59 year old TVR is to close its factory at Blackpool, a seaside town in northwest England. A year ago, the company announced its plant was impossibly outdated and planned to move to new premises in search of better quality and more efficient production. Fair enough, at Blackpool, the staff labors in dusty, fumeladen conditions.
Now TVR has laid off more that a quarter of its 260-strong workforce and said it cant guarantee security for the rest.
Its brought forward the closure of the current plant to the end of 2006, conciding with the end of the lease there. It still wont give the location of the new plant or even say whether one has been found or even whether itll be in Britain. So at least a temporary lapse in production seems likely.
Nikolay Smolensky, who bought the company at age 23 in mid2004, is immensely secretive. Although the firm provided cars for John Travolta to drive in the movie 'Swordfish', its always found US exports too much trouble because the cars dont meet US emmisions/safety laws. And US consumers have a habit of wanting legal redress when their cars go wrong. As TVRs often do.

Not good news.

 

[Dave A]

It's not bad news, it's been planned for ages, moving into new premesis with more upto date facilities is a good thing, it means better cars. The fact it coincides with the laying off of some staff isn't good mainly because it's sent the media into the wrong direction. The closing of the plant was planned since Smolenski first took over the business. What's going to happen is production will end later this year and all TVR's excess stock is going to be sold while the new plant is being made operational. Once the new plant up running, production will start again, and with good planning, it will start again just as the excess stock they have starts to run out.

News and threads like seem to be too focused on the job cuts and the factory closing that they forget that the factory closing was planned and that they are moving into a new factory next yearas planned.

This is what TVR has been upto more recently...

18th May 2006


TVR has just returned from exhibiting a Sagaris and a Tuscan convertible at an invitational supercar show in Hungary, central-eastern Europe. The Budapest Luxury Car Show claims to be the fourth largest motor show in the world, attracting some 200,000 visitors through its doors.

Hosted across three halls totaling more than 300,000 square feet at Hungexpo, the largest fair centre in the region, the show is aimed at buyers in the exclusive, luxury car market. TVR was in good company exhibiting alongside the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini and Pagani. Just as on the track and on the road, however, TVR punched above its weight in captivating the audience, and found the show to be an excellent platform to help launch the marque into new international markets.

In true TVR style, the company took the rather eccentric option of driving its show vehicles to and from the venue, covering some 3,000 trouble-free miles in both the Sagaris and the Tuscan convertible. But the long journey was well worth it, said Ian Law of TVR, one of the car's drivers: "These new cars are simply stunning, and they're very comfortable on long journeys. It provided a great talking point on our stand and demonstrated the new cars' phenomenal GT capabilities, proving just how much they've moved on in recent years."

This...

19th May 2006

The first ever left-hand drive TVR Sagaris rolled out of the factory today. The car is heading for authorised Dutch dealer, Nimag BV, giving yet another boost to the company's ambitions to succeed in international markets.

Since the Sagaris was launched in 2004, the model has attracted global attention, especially following its appearances at international exhibitions and the car's starring role in Pirelli Film's debut production, The Call.

TVR has had a healthy export market for many years, with authorised dealers currently in Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Belguim, Switzerland, Russia and Japan, but now has plans to sell more concertedly into Europe and throughout the world.

The momentous first left-hand drive Sagaris was built to order for a customer of Nimag BV, Netherlands, who can be e-mailed or telephoned on +31 (0) 347 349 807. The car is also expected to eventually feature in a European television commercial.

And this...

25th May 2006

A new authorised dealer training programme is being launched by TVR in conjunction with Blackpool and The Fylde College, an associate college of Lancaster University. The programme will ensure that the authorised dealers continue to be trained to the highest standards, with access to the very latest technologies, purpose-built facilities and expertise.

TVR and the college have been working closely for some months on the implementation of the programme, which will cover TVR-approved apprenticeships up to level III City and Guilds and TVR-approved technician training up to masters' level. The prestigious college, which is a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Automotive Manufacture and holds a Charter Mark for Excellence, is installing a purpose-built training area specifically for the programme, and TVR is providing the latest software, hardware and knowledge.

This is an important move by TVR to contribute towards the preservation and progression of British automotive engineering, as well as to ensure the furtherance in quality of its own cars and their ongoing maintenance. TVR is proud that its cars and many of their components are hand-crafted and cared for by skilled technicians and engineers, a tradition that it is keen to continue.

 

[Rogue Ssv]

Hmm, maybe Motor Trend is getting unreliable
Both my threads are wordfor word from mt.

 

[McLaren]

Hmm, maybe Motor Trend is getting unreliable
Both my threads are wordfor word from mt.

No, it's just behind in the times. News of the let gos was some months ago.

 

[Dave A]

Rogue SSV, check this thread, it's got some magazine scans in from an issue of AutoCar regarding TVR's future and a good number of informative posts in there, it's a thread that's well worth a read for TVR fans.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80557

 

[Rogue Ssv]

Thanks. So what will happen to this thread?
And the July MT is behind the times?
Thats not good.

 

[Poverty]

I heard TVR's were coming to the US in the next two years. I think its just the media going over board once again just to sell some newspapers/magazines.

 

[Dave A]

No confirmation on America yet, they ARE looking into it, and with the new cars they are developing them with the ability to sell oversaes in mind from the drawing board. The magazine saying they would be in the US in two years is speculating, but it could happen. Rogue, this thread might be merged with the other thread I linked to, since they both deal with pretty much the same topic but arn't exact repeat threads, just wait for a mod to see whats best.

 

[exigeracer]

The Budapest Luxury Car Show claims to be the fourth largest motor show in the world, attracting some 200,000 visitors through its doors.

Quick O-T trivia - What are the other 3 larger shows?

 

[Dave A]

I'm guessing Geneva, Tokyo and the North American International show, just a guess.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Quick O-T trivia - What are the other 3 larger shows?

Wikipedia.org says Frankfurt, Paris, and Chicago, in that order. Maybe they dumped North America into one show. That or they're making false claims.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

If that 200,000 people number is right, there's no way that's the fourth-largest. LA auto show gets several times that, if memory is correct. I mean, we are a car-crazed city of almost ten million people!

 

[Rogue Ssv]

There's a Chicago Autoshow?
Paris?
What?
How bout
1 Detroit
2 Frankfurt
3 New York

 

[YSSMAN]

I think Chicago has the largest floor space, and has drawn more people in than Detroit many, many times. I would have figured Chicago, Detroit (NAIAS), Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, etc.

Given the nature of the debuts that happen at any given auto show, that would make Detroit number one, followed by Frankfurt, and then Paris. Not to say Tokyo doesn't play a major role, but the majority of the models introduced there are not global as they are in Detroit or Frankfurt.

-----

Back to the TVR story: It really is unfortunate that they are having problems, as they have been for quite some time as it would seem, but I think they are on the way to fixing them. Layoffs or not, it is part of business, and you have to remain profitable to stay open.

If they were to enter the US or North American market, there is a lot of money to be made, and once again, I bring up the loophole in which companies like Noble and Aerial have been able to ship their cars to the US without having to meet emissions and crash regulations. If they send the cars in without engine or transmission, that should be sufice.

...But, we will see. I really want a Sagaris myself, or possibly a Tamora...

 

[Keef]

Have you all forgotten about Geneva? That's a pretty meaty one. And I also think the NAIAS is the busiest in America, or at least it once was.

And I believe TVR wants to be seen as a real car company. Hardly anyone knows about Noble or Aerial here because they don't have dealerships, don't have commercials, they don't have anything more than a kit car company might have. Well, they do have body panels already attached. TVR wants to sell real cars, not uber-kit cars.

 

[Dave A]

Keef's pretty close to why TVR haven't exploted that loophole yet, but unfotunately it may be the only the way to go and still make a profit. But we will see.

On the car shows front, I think you'll find Geneva has been mentioned.

 

[YSSMAN]

And I believe TVR wants to be seen as a real car company. Hardly anyone knows about Noble or Aerial here because they don't have dealerships, don't have commercials, they don't have anything more than a kit car company might have. Well, they do have body panels already attached. TVR wants to sell real cars, not uber-kit cars.

...Well, some folks must know of them, as last I herd, Aerial has been selling every single Atom they can get here, and they have been struggling to get enough here matched with the Cobalt SS' 2.2L S/C I4.

As far as the Noble M12 goes, I've only seen one in my entire life driving on the road (it was electric blue), but I hear that they are selling pretty well as well. The magazines love the Noble in the US, but they aren't bringing many here to begin with.

...All TVR would have to do is let the American magazines know that their cars are comming to the US (they allready have a HUGE following in Car and Driver), and they will probably sell out every shipment in the first couple weeks.

 

[Dave A]

There was an article a while back where Nikolai Smolenski said he wanted a dealer network in America, that's what he wantred but it'd take a while to setup. I personally don't think that would be a profitable venture, it would cost too much to set up and as a result, would hike up the prices of the cars. What they should do is ship the cars and engines seperate like Noble and Ariel do, and sell them through existing US dealers (probably like Noble and Ariel do, I don't know), and use the meia to get as many deposits down before they even get there.They do want to return to America, just how they will go about it when they finally make a decision is yet to be seen. I wasn't aware they had any following in any of the US mags already though, that's interesting.

 

[YSSMAN]

Oh yeah, American automotive magazines are crazy for the TVR line. Car and Driver regularly prints news stories about not only TVR, but also Noble (the M15 was in the newest issue) and has mentioned Ariel a time or two. Motor Trend had a story about cars they wished were sold in the US, and I belive the TVR Sagaris was in the top 5, and the Atom was there as well. They mention TVR quite often as well, but not in as much of a serious way as C/D.

Of what I have read in magazines and seen on the internet, Noble and Ariel each have only one distributor of their cars in the US. The singular Noble dealer in the US is located in Ohio, and 1g Racing assembles the cars there for you before pickup. As for Ariel, they are shipped to Ashland, Oregon and are constructed by Brammo Motorsports. The only difference between the US and European versions is that the American model uses the 2.2L S/C I4 ECOTEC engine from the Cobalt SS, of course with a few extra ponies.

 

[GT Pro]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Move will happen in coming months[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Independent British sports car manufacturer, TVR has finalised the first stage of its relocation plans, and would like to confirm that it will be remaining in Britain and predominantly within Lancashire, the region in which the company was founded in 1947.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For the foreseeable future, TVR will operate from a new international headquarters in Lancaster, where the management, sales and marketing teams, as well as research and development, will all be based. There will also be a TVR museum and an archive library at the headquarters, to which press, visitors, customers and enthusiasts will be warmly welcomed.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Following extensive discussions with the local council, final production of TVR cars will also remain within Lancashire, at a confirmed plant in the Squires Gate area of Blackpool. It is planned that some sub-assembly manufacturing will eventually be conducted away from the new plant, but that remains the subject of further discussion and is linked to new materials technology that will be a feature of future TVR models.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The new facilities, to which TVR will be moving within the coming months, will help TVR achieve Euro IV type approval and to realise an increased international presence, as well as to further its programme of continuous quality improvements. The relocation will be carefully managed to minimise disruption, and customers' orders will be unaffected.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]"This is the first stage of transition for the company," said David Oxley, managing director of TVR. "The Squire’s Gate facility will enable us to increase our volumes in-line with Euro IV approval and with the opening up of new international markets for TVR. The Lancaster headquarters will also increase efficiency in our administration, research and development, aftersales and sales and marketing departments."
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]These strategic moves by TVR continue to strengthen its position as one of the very few remaining truly British sports car manufacturers, a claim of which it is extremely proud. The company remains committed to producing exhilarating premium performance cars, something it has done for almost 60 years and a tradition that it's looking forward to continuing well into the future.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Nikolai Smolenski, TVR's chairman added: "Our eventual plan is a brand new factory for TVR, but our choice of site for that facility is a decision to be made in the future. We have introduced a relocation strategy that allows TVR to grow into the international company that has always been my vision, and to continue to build on the improved quality using a skilled and committed local workforce."[/FONT]

-WorldCarFans.com


This, is in my opinion, atleast gains some reassurance towards TVR's future.

 

[Dave A]

It was all in the news here in the Lanc's the other day, very good news and hopefully will end this whole "TVR is dieing" missinformation that's been going around the press rooms recently.