[kagamine]

Look back at 100 years of automobile manufacturing. The big companies we have today are the survivors. As recently as this century, Rover Group, a company that was around for a century and made a great product ceased to be.

The tax perks in many countries that have buoyed up Tesla sales are ending. So perhaps manufacturers don't see now as a good time to enter a market containing risk. Better to wait it out and plan accordingly.

[tonyedgecombe]

Rover group and British Leyland as they were made some terrible products.

[kagamine]

They had some excellent ones too. Rover 600 & 75 were good cars. Many major manufacturers have had life-threatening failures in recent years resulting in recalls. Some surviving brands were much, much worse than Rover Group at quality. Lancia still exist, Alfa Romeo exist. Fiat in the 1980s, no thanks, I'm not paying for rust.

[tonyedgecombe]

The Italian cars did rust at the slightest hint of damp weather but you soon forgot about that when you got behind the wheel. They had flair, style and driver engagement in abundance.

When I look back at the Rovers my dad drove they were as dull as dishwater and very poor quality.

[jacquesm]

'The parts falling off this car are of the very finest British manufacture.'