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Japanese Automakers Boost Exports From Europe
More than two-thirds of all Japanese-brand models sold in Europe now are produced there, an industry group says. Imports from Japan fell to 371,576 units in 2013, down 8.2% from 401,870 compared with prior-year.
Roger Schreffler
August 7, 2014
2 Min Read
Toyota expanding Yaris output at French plant.
TOKYO – Japanese automakers’ overall production in the European Union was virtually flat in 2013, but their builds for export continued climbing, an industry group reports.
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says member companies built 1,379,733 vehicles at its 14 plants in seven EU countries last year, down marginally from 1,383,583 in 2012.
Nearly three-quarters of Japanese-brand models sold in the EU are produced there, the report says. Imports from Japan into the EU fell to 371,576 units in 2013, down 8.2% from 401,870 prior-year and down nearly 65% from 1.04 million in the peak year of 2004.
Exports from Japanese automakers’ European plants rose 15.3% to a record 243,415 units last year, up 15.3% from 211,168 in 2012. The 2013 total included 117,300 units exported to EU, non-EU and Commonwealth of Independent States countries; 39,200 to Oceania; 28,600 to Africa; 25,200 to the Middle East; 14,400 to Latin America; 8,300 to North America; and 1,500 to Asia.
Other findings in the report:
Japanese production in the original 15-nation EU totaled 1,149,241 units in 2013, down from 1,153,322 in 2012.
JAMA members purchased €12.7 billion ($21.6 billion) of EU-made parts in 2013, up from €11.8 billion ($20.1 billion).
Japanese automakers employed 32,084 people in production and 2,173 in research in the EU.
Toyota Motor Mfg. France this year will add a third shift at its Valenciennes plant to meet demand for the Yaris model, while the Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobile Czech joint venture will open a 6.0 billion koruna ($293.6 million) car-assembly facility in Kolin, Czech Republic.
Nissan Motor Mfg. (U.K.) will invest £192.0 million ($327.5 million) in production of the Qashqai SUV and related R&D at its Sunderland plant; Nissan Spain launches Pulsar hatchback assembly on a €130.0 million ($175 million) line at its Barcelona facility; and Nissan U.K. in 2015 will begin building a compact Infiniti model through a £250 million ($424.5 million) expansion at Sunderland.
Toyota and Honda in April joined a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle test program with BMW, Daimler, Hyundai and hydrogen suppliers. The HyFIVE (Hydrogen for Innovative Vehicles) project will deploy 110 FCEVs in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy and the U.K.
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