Chapter summary

At one time Reliant cars were a familiar sight on British roads. Famous for its three-wheels and loved by many, Reliant Cars Ltd was the second largest car company in the UK from the 1960s to the 1990s, producing half a million vehicles. However in the early 1990s an economic recession affected its business and that of its major stakeholders, and with a rising cost base, the company went bust three times in five years. In 1996 an ex-engineer from Jaguar cars, Jonathan Haynes arrived with a new backer to buy the company out of administration. This case deals with the question whether he could turn Reliant Cars Ltd around and put it on a path to sustainable recovery.

Keywords: automotive industry; Reliant Group; turnaround