Hang Your Head In Shame.
German car maker BMW, makes better more suitable cars than anything on offer in Britain! Well that’s the message we are going to send to the world as BMW has been chosen as the official automotive supplier of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The cars will be used to transport athletes, officials and the media during the games. In addition, BMW Motorcycles and bicycles will be available for use by athletes and by London 2012 staff.
I don’t know about you, but this sums it all up for me and clearly demonstrates that the hoo-raa Henry’s that are the decision makers and beneficiaries of all the freebies and goodies that are up for grabs during an event like this are looking after themselves yet again, at the expense of British jobs and despite the terrible long term impression this gives to the entire world about British industry.
We usually make around 1.5 million cars in the UK, but with the downturn in the market, 2009 saw us make just 801,000 cars in the first 10 months of 2009.
Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Vauxhall, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Lotus, plus many others, make cars here in the UK employing around 850,000 people. One of the most exclusive brands in the world, Spyker the Dutch hand built sports car maker has just relocated its production to Coventry. So there is something kind of strange and odd that we decide to go to a German car maker to promote German industry by agreeing it can supply cars for “our” Olympics.
Just think, for one moment, could you imagine at a German or French Olympics, that the Germans or French “at any price” would choose anything other than a car manufactured in their own country to become the official flag flying car?
OK, this is probably tied up with some complicated sponsor arrangement, and they have put maximum average guidelines on CO2 emissions, but the fact is, these are the “British, London, Olympic Games”, a once in a lifetime experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase our country and our industry (or so we are told) yet we choose Stuttgart over Sunderland, we choose German workers over British workers.
I should think BMW are laughing up there sleeves. BMW say they have a natural affinity with London 2012 and its commitment to low carbon and healthy living.” They say they want to focus attention on their range of fuel efficient cars and as part of the deal; they will also be show casing electric vehicles.
Can’t anyone see the huge benefits to BMW of doing this? No favours are being done for us here, its marketing plain and simple and what a coo for BMW, as they can do it on a world stage, whilst the host nation is made to again look like the poor relation.
What message does this send out to the rest of the world? It says Britain can’t offer a car good enough for the job in hand and can’t even offer a car that’s suitable for our own use, it says we choose foreign product over our own and by association, says to everyone else that they should do exactly the same.
It’s a slap in the face to every British Tax Payer who is shelling out to fund this folly that its organisers would rather pick a posh German brand than have an opportunity to promote British industry worldwide and in doing, create jobs for British people.
Those that agreed this deal should hang their heads in shame
