(Note on text by transcriber (James Lee for COI): "Due to interference, the line was not good and made transcription very difficult indeed")
Prime Minister
It is a marvellous car, such a marvellous car.
Question
Just how important is marketing?
Prime Minister
It is very very important indeed. We would hope to sell more and more … . in Japan … . for people who like very good cars.
It is a specialist kind of car. We had a Jaguar when I was … . for years and so I just feel that I know a good deal about them and it is indeed … car that we drive at No.10. I have two and so it is a very reliable car … . very reliable.
Question
(Inaudible) [end p1]
Prime Minister
We sell Jaguars very well in America and I hope …
Question
What do you make of the … . Ford may take over the Jaguar?
Prime Minister
Do be accurate. What is the accurate position? Fords can take, as any shareholder can do, up to 15 percent in Jaguar. It seems to me that that will strengthen Jaguar, give far more outlets, and it is a very good thing. That is quite different from the question which you put to me.
Question
(Inaudible)
Prime Minister
We are attempting to do that. We are attempting to adapt our goods to the Japanese market and this has been adapted to Japanese requirements. That is the way you sell more in export markets and that is what we are doing. I think we can get more orders and I think that today will have helped us to do so.
… the person concerned is very good, very good two-way cooperation. … does extremely well in Britain and it is very nice to … [End of transcript].
Further statement:
PM
That seems to me that strengthens Jaguar and gives them far more outlets and that is a very good thing.