In August 2013, BBC 2 organized an unforgettable car evening. Top Gear brought an impressive end piece of the twentieth Top Gear season. This was crowned with an ode to the British automobile industry. It reached its peak at The Mall in London, where everything that was built on a motorized surface in Great Britain came together.
"That's more than I thought," Richard Hammond sighed when he and the Top Gear saw an impressive collection. The broadcast was followed by the documentary Das Auto: The Germans, their cars and us, which was presented by Dominic Sandbrook. Germany was praised to heaven. The British mistakes, the crisis of the 70 and the historic British self-willed were magnified. Incidentally, the Japanese - the actual saviors of the British auto industry - were wrongly ignored.
Europe again ignored
Jeremy Clarkson was not happy at 2013 that summer. The former Top Gear anchorman, who in 2007 at the Humber Bridge in Hull already found himself grinding teeth that Rolls Royce was British by name alone, thought it was incredible that the Top Gear tribute to "British Motoring" was wiped out within an hour and a half. It was also a form of denial and selective indignation. Of course, he knew better than anyone that large-scale motor vehicles were largely in the hands of foreign groups. Something that was touched on from a different angle in the Sandbrook documentary. Mass production of cars and other motorized transport was not in the genes of the British. The Mini for example, which was sold below cost. In addition, another aspect emerged in Sandbrook's story. In terms of sales, Great Britain could suffice with the market within the Commonwealth. And so it went well. It did not need the growing European market around the corner.
Baldness
Let that last fact stand today in a renewed perspective. The Brexit is a phenomenon whose referendum has been technically determined that the majority of Britons still believe that they can do it all themselves. In the meantime, an EU deal is still being discussed. If that does not happen, a hard Brexit remains. Anyone who thinks that Great Britain spins on it is wrong, and good too. In terms of price, Great Britain and the rest of Europe have become interdependent. The British Pound and the Euro, they keep each other in relative balance thanks to all kinds of trade agreements. But now that Great Britain (with or without a deal) threatens to leave the EU, the economic turmoil and the onset of defeat are palpable and visible.
MINI: possible departure in anniversary year
In the anniversary year of MINI, its production is in danger of disappearing completely from England after sixty years. In the case of a hard Brexit, the construction of new MINIs will go to Born, to VDL. Mother BMW does not seem to want to take any risks, it has no interest in selling expensive cars and it is possible to choose eggs for the money. It is no less than a demasqué if MINI is no longer built in the home country. That is another hit for car-building Britain, which once had more than 100 independent car manufacturers within the borders.
Sheep over the dam
The possible departure of MINI becomes a story of one sheep that has crossed the dam, the next one has already followed it, in whatever way. Honda and NISSAN have been active in Britain for decades, but are making receding movements. Jaguar Landrover scraps 4.500 jobs in the country of origin and makes a billion-dollar investment. And the Morgan family has sold a majority stake to Investindustrial, so that the excellent running Morgan is no longer purely British. Earlier the Italian investor already bought Morgans' countryman Aston Martin. And that while Brexit is not even final yet.
End of an era is imminent
Even though most British car manufacturers have been in foreign hands for years, developments are recent next step. A leap in the dark, which may also make the remaining British car makers think. To be taken over and to remain, or to transplant everything to a safe Europe: the British are in danger of permanently losing their usually high-profile car industry. It is again a high price paid for the idea that Britain does not need the world even in an era of far-reaching and blazing-fast globalization, and may possibly set its own course.
No more Japanese and German rescue
It's been less than six years since BBC 2 hosted a legendary television evening, where the British future and the wry history competed with each other. That battle ax is probably never dug up again. Because saying goodbye to another illustrious, controversial and much talked about car building in Great Britain, the country that also produced such beautiful classics, is very realistic. The Japanese and the Germans will no longer lend a helping hand. The Mall will no longer be filled with the latest "Made in Britain". Also to the dismay of Jeremy Clarkson and Dominic Sandbrook, who are undoubtedly concerned about developments in their country. And shoulder to shoulder, Britain will want to stay in the EU.