According to Norwegian newspapers, the electric car manufacturer Think‘s financial reserves will last only a couple of days. It isn’t the first time, though, as the company, dating back to the early 1990′s, was sold to the Ford Motor Company in 1999, to an international car manufacturing group in 2003, but has been on Norwegian hands for the last couple of years.
Even if the implications of a bankruptcy are serious for those involved, they really aren’t that many. Comparing with the international auto industry crisis just isn’t fair, but it is rather ironic that an environmentally conscious car manufacturer threatens to go belly up at a time when just those considerations are of such great importance.
In spite of the environmental aspects and the rocketing fuel prices, Think may soon find themselves out of business, which, to be perfectly honest, is more to do with the country of origin than anything else. Basing manufacturing — any kind of manufacturing — on Norwegian labour simply will not do. Norwegians, labourers included, see themselves as representatives of a premium stock, worth twice or thrice the wages of industrial workers anywhere else (in that perspective you really can’t blame the Nazis for once holding us in such high esteem — after all; we do).
No wonder even Norwegian companies go overseas for manufacturing. Take a recent example; Kongsberg Automotive, employing some 11,000 in 20 countries, of which only 600 at home — of whom, by the way, most are likely to be laid off, of course. Which should come as no surprise, considering the wages we claim. Granted, the cost of living far exceeds that of other countries, but comes as a result of high incomes.
Catch 22 indeed, and one that, under the circumstances, isn’t about to resolve some time soon.
After all, they can’t be serious if they mean that we, the apex of human worth and evolution, should compete on equal terms. I’m sorry, but we’re too good for that.
If it means bankruptcy, then so be it:
Late update: In a press conference Monday afternoon (in Norwegian), the Think management announced a temporary leave of the entire working stock, while trying to raise the NOK 200 million needed for continued operations.
