Japanese Automakers Continue to Raise Stake in Europe

TOKYO – Japanese automakers continued to grow their European operations in 2015, according to a new report by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Assn.

The report, titled “Common Challenges, Common Future; Japanese Auto Manufacturers Contribute to the Competitiveness of Europe’s Motor Industry,” reveals the nation’s automakers produced 1.4 million vehicles at 10 European assembly plants in 2015. The total, excluding production in Russia, was up 1.4% over the previous year.

Nissan’s European subsidiaries produced 581,301 vehicles at plants in the U.K. and Spain, according to JAMA. Toyota, ranked second, built 511,325 units and was followed by Suzuki (185,000) and Honda (118,897).

Toyota operates plants in the U.K., France, Portugal and Czech Republic. Suzuki has an assembly operation in Hungary and Honda has a facility in the U.K.

Japanese truck maker Mitsubishi Fuso produced 6,237 Canter trucks at its plant in Portugal.

In addition to locally built vehicles, Japanese automakers imported a record 524,770 vehicles during the year, up from 452,322 in 2014. They also purchased a record €14.1 billion ($15.8 billion) of European Union-made components, up 11.1%.

Japanese automakers exported a record 352,987 units, up from 236,702 in 2014. Major export destinations included non-EU/Commonwealth of Independent States countries at 154,300; the Middle East, 60,100; Oceania, 36,500; North America, 32,000; Africa, 30,400; Latin America, 22,300; and Asia (including Japan), 17,500.

Nissan, which produced 452,232 vehicles at its Sunderland, U.K., plant, invested €523.8 million ($587 million) in facilities, more than any other Japanese automaker. That includes €306 million ($343 million) for Infiniti Q30 production.