BY MALCOLM DOUGLAS

I have just come back from the Czech and while there Keisler was dismissed, I have heard from a third party that he said ” I do not know what the Americans want me to do!” Keisler was head of the company and the Americans spent a lot of time and money training him to convert to their way of thinking. I believe he was in America getting degrees and qualifications for over 6 months. It must be realised by everybody that by dismissing Keisler the American are up to something, so we can say the earthquake has happened and the tsunami will hit, but when and how nobody knows. The Indians with Vectra Group now owns 17% of Tatra Cz, Tanax the axle production factory in Slovakia and has a joint agreement with Terex in India where they manufacture the whole truck! (when I asked people in Tatra CZ about this information they had no idea or didn’t want to talk) At present a max of 5 trucks per day come off the production line, normally 3 and many days none. Additionally to this Terex is making a special 10×10 with 8 wheel steering and air suspension all round for Oshkosh. This could be the savour for Tatra Cz, but are the Americans using Czech know how and then get ATC to produce the truck in America? The next 6 months will be crucial for the future of Tatra CZ because the traditional market place like India and China is producing the Tatra chassis there. Russia is reluctant to buy from the Americans and they have Kamaz, Ural and Zil so no need. The Americans stopped right hand drive so that excludes the UK, Japan, and Australia. The good side is that Terex have posted record growth and profits for last year, so they have plenty money to keep the Tatra ship afloat.