ballpoint

Complacency of the car companies - "we're the best. We'll keep making the same models, with the same poor standards". Ineptitude of a number of governments - yes, Thatcher was a big part, but governments before and after her didn't help. Greed of the unions - or rather, no desire to work with the factory owners to get through the grim period. Failure to learn from the British motorcycle industry, which underwent consolidation, followed by bust. So, what did the car industry do? Consolidation, followed by bust. Who could have seen that coming?

Hey, I resemble that remark! And I'm proud of it.