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Europe's car makers are in crisis. Will the threat of war rescue them?
BBC ^ | 09/22/2026 | Simon Jack and Theo Leggett

Posted on 09/23/2026 8:42:17 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Based on its popular Ranger series, this beefy number parked outside the front door of Ford's Dagenham plant can carry a load of two tonnes, tow up to four tonnes and is also shouldering the hopes of the 2,000-strong workforce that still makes engines here.

Inside the factory, the three-litre diesel engines that will power this camo-painted beast drift down a production line that has seen output cut from 90,000 engines a year to about half that over the last decade.

Ford is hoping that a pivot towards military vehicles can help fill the void created by what the company's UK boss calls the most challenging environment since the invention of the motor car. Once mighty, the European car industry is starting to look puny and is hoping surging defence budgets as Europe re-arms can help it flex its industrial muscles once more.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS:
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To: Zathras

That and they build crappy overpriced cars that cost a fortune to keep running.


21 posted on 09/23/2026 12:25:11 PM PDT by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians )
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To: FrankRizzo890

22 posted on 09/23/2026 4:04:54 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo )
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To: Bonemaker

First time I saw the movie I didn’t like it. A few more times, and it grew on me like athlete’s foot. Now, I quote parts of it.


23 posted on 09/23/2026 10:07:22 PM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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