Jamie said:
Triumph will reportedly move the assembly of its vertical twins, the Bonnie, Thruxton, Scrambler, etc, to its new plant in Chonburi, Thailand, some time next year. Forward- looking, growth-oriented entrepreneurship, no doubt.
Sweet ought to be the cost savings compared to a UK manufacturing base (and a strong British currency).
But sour, at least in my view, is the harbinger, i.e. some inevitable dilution of the "made in the UK" brand identity.
Jamie
There is a big stink on the Triumph Bonneville Forums about that and it's one of the reasons I bought a Rocket rather than another Bonnie.
Folks on the other forums are calling them "Thaiumph's"
I don't know about the global economy thing, Great Britain, Germany, Japan and a few other countries have very similar economies whereas Thailand, Taiwan ROC., China, Korea and Pacific Rim countries have economies that aren't even close to the former countries. When you are paying 50 cents a day for labor and then selling the product in the civilized, unionized world, well, that's the Wal-Mart philosophy. That's why I avoid Wal-Mart. It's about profits, but if the people that are buying the product can't afford the product anymore because of job loss or loosing their job to an offshore competitor then tell me where any advantage lies. After all, motorcycles are a luxury item, not a necessity,
These companies that are practicing vacating the civilized world for a third world hovel, better wake up and smell the roses before those roses fall from the stem leaving just thorns.
Just for kicks and giggles................. The bear claw, gasoline tank, side covers, head pipe and swing arm are at present being made in Thailand. I heard that Triumph will do actual assembly of the vertical twins over there starting next year. I've lost quite a bit of respect for Bloor and the Marque.