Strong demand leads to increased production at Leyland Trucks

Production levels are to be significantly increased at Leyland Trucks’ Lancashire assembly plant from March.

The increase is to help meet continued strong demand for the vehicles Leyland Trucks builds for DAF Trucks. Both companies are subsidiaries of PACCAR Inc.

DAF has been market leader in the UK for some 10 years now and is one of the fastest growing truck manufacturers in Europe. All models in the DAF range sold in the UK, ranging from 7.5 tonnes to 44 tonnes and amounting to around 15,000 trucks a year, are now built at Leyland. Also the award-winning LF light/medium weight truck produced at the Lancashire plant, is winning increased sales in European markets, particularly the newly-emerging markets of Eastern Europe.

The increased level of production is expected to create up to 80 new jobs. It will raise the current annual output of the plant by around 3,500 vehicles a year taking it to over the 25,000 a year mark. This announcement is good news for companies across the UK that supply components to Leyland Trucks.

This is the third production increase at Leyland Trucks in the last six months. Increases in September and November saw daily production rates rise by 27.5% and this latest increase takes production to almost 50% above the pre-September level.

Managing Director Jim Sumner says that the ability to raise output again is underpinned by the productivity and flexibility shown by the existing 1,200 strong workforce and the significant investments made by parent company PACCAR in the plant in recent years.

“The performance of our people has contributed significantly to improving our competitive position,” he says. “And this is further supported by continuous investment by our parent company PACCAR amounting to over £35 million in recent years, which has ensured that Leyland Trucks enjoys world-class manufacturing facilities.”

As well as truck assembly, the Leyland Trucks plant retains a substantial capability for the design and development of light and medium weight trucks. It is the centre of excellence for light trucks in PACCAR and works on models bearing the DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt nameplates. PACCAR Inc. is the world’s most consistently profitable manufacturer of trucks.