ARTICLE: “In India, a New Detroit: Nissan and Others Add Factories in Emerging Markets,” by Martin Fackler, New York Times, 26 June 2008, p. C1.
The big 3 of Japan (Toyota, Honda, Nissan) have stuck to the Old Core for a while, but now, “in a radical shift, Japan’s staid Big Three are plowing into exotic terrain, from Saharan Africa to the former Soviet Union to the scorching plains of southern India.”
Key line:
The aggressive moves by traditionally cautious automakers are the latest signpost that the epicenter of the global auto industry it shifting increasingly from California to somewhere between Canton and Calcutta.
I think the CA reference is more to standards than production, but you get the point: demand rules.
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Comments (4)
Japanese automakers have a light footprint here in Detroit. Toyota has a design studio in Ann Arbor, but that's about it. You'd have to include Mazda, which is controlled by Ford Motor Company, to say that the Japanese auto-makers are doing production in Detroit.
Everyone here admits that California is leading the way of the industry. We (in Detroit) have the history of the auto industry, but California dictates the future. Even if the corporate headquarters, production and engineering are done in Detroit, everyone here admits that California leads the way when it comes to the trends and culture of the industry.
All of the American design studios for Japanese automakers are located in Southern California. Even the majority of design studios for Chrysler and Ford are in SoCal. So, the quote that "the global auto industry it shifting increasingly from California to somewhere between Canton and Calcutta" seems pretty accurate.
Posted by Brad B. | July 25, 2008 12:50 PM
Or just a lazy wave at alliteration...
Posted by Mark V. McDonnell | July 25, 2008 2:23 PM
Had to look it up but I think you're right. ;)
Posted by Brad B. | July 25, 2008 11:48 PM
Toyota has had a global market for its trucks for a long time.
Posted by Louis Heberlein | July 26, 2008 12:48 PM