Paul Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] FOURTEEN workers have been made redundant just days before Christmas by a car manufacturer. Men and women at Ascari, in Overthorpe road, Banbury, were told to hand in their keys, swipe cards and computer passwords on Friday, ten days after receiving a letter saying their jobs were under threat. It follows a downturn in profits at the firm, which has sold just <font color="red"> one </font> car since opening in Banbury in 2000. [/ QUOTE ] Source www.ascari.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 IIRC TopGear very highly rated their car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 From their statement: "They were good workers and if things get back to normal they will be contacted." I'm not sure they would want to work for a company with such an attitude again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] It follows a downturn in profits at the firm, which has sold just <font color="red"> one </font> car since opening in Banbury in 2000. [/ QUOTE ] How the hell can you downturn from that? I've never understood these little companies that try and compete in the six figure price bracket against Ferrari and the like, they' just so outclassed and out gunned on every front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin09 Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Exactly, one car in total can't be right surely. What have they been doing for the last 6 years?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 It wouldn't surprise me. People with six figures to spend on a car aint daft. Why would you buy one over a Porsche 911 GT3 or a Ferrari F430? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin09 Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] It wouldn't surprise me. People with six figures to spend on a car aint daft. Why would you buy one over a Porsche 911 GT3 or a Ferrari F430? [/ QUOTE ] Ok, but then would it be a shock if you were made redundant? So its 2000, you've finished the car, given it a final check, polished it, shipped it off. Now what exactly where they all doing for the following 5 and a half years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Maybe the 14 being made redundant are the sales force? I can't imagine that one sale since the company's inception constitutes the achievement of any target whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_simon Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] From their statement: "They were good workers and if things get back to normal they will be contacted." I'm not sure they would want to work for a company with such an attitude again! [/ QUOTE ] Robin, If they are making highly skilled people redundant then there is a good reason. If they don't cut people the whole business might fold. This is not the same as a large co chopping a few people before bonus's are paid, it is a small co that (by the sound of things) needs to take action to survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin09 Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 How is there anything worth salvaging when they've sold ONE CAR IN SIX (6) YEARS! My mind is currently boggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Do they only build cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 seeing as they've only sold one, i dont think they even do that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 A shame, but hardly a surprise. So many other like this - Starthcarron, Tommy KZ etc, TVR next ? I love an underdog, but they are so outclassed ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacingRed Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 As with so many small car enterprises, Ascari is owned by a rich bloke, in their case a Mr Klas Zwaart (hence Ascari 'KZ1'), he's Dutch, I think. Prior to the KZ1 the company was involved in GT racing in some series or other with its first car the Ascari Ecosse. That was available for sale, though it was rough as you'd expect of a purpose built racer. Difficult to grasp why they would only have shifted one KZ-1, its a good looking thing, BMW motor should be good for servicing and parts (Though its a tuned up previous-gen M5, so maybe it needs more work), and unlike most small manufacturers the company has a circuit in Spain that serves owners wishing to stretch the cars and has also been used by the industry (Launches, magazine features, etc), so they are not without follow-up services. The car has received critical acclaim (including a good write up in EVO), Top Gear have covered it. Very odd. But then footballers aren't the most free thinking chaps in the world are they? One buys a Hummer, next week the ground car park half a dozen of 'em. Maybe Ascari should give one away free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] A shame, but hardly a surprise. So many other like this - Starthcarron, Tommy KZ etc, TVR next ? I love an underdog, but they are so outclassed ..... [/ QUOTE ] Forgot - Lister Storm, sure there are others.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudson Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 I am surprised it has taken this long to make a number of the staff redundant, god knows how they have been keeping the wage bill paid for so long !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_simon Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I am surprised it has taken this long to make a number of the staff redundant, god knows how they have been keeping the wage bill paid for so long !!! [/ QUOTE ] Probably consultancy, reace buildf and maintain etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooret Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Well, lets hope these poor people are reasonably skilled and Prodrive quarter of a mile away can offer them something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkzz Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 hmm, this will explain why we havent done any work for them since 2002, we made most of the interior for the ascari cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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