富士重工在中國設立汽車廠

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:

富士重工業が中国で初めてとなる工場建設に向け、現地メーカーと大詰めの交渉に入ったことが２１日、明らかになった。１３年の稼働を目指しており、実現すれば日本のすべての大手乗用車メーカーが中国進出を果たすことになる。０９年に米国を抜き世界最大となった中国の自動車市場は１１年にさらに伸びて２０００万台を超えると見られる。各社とも、２０日開幕した広州モーターショーでシェア拡大に向けた戦略車をアピール、生産体制の強化などを一段と進める。
　富士重は中国の複数の現地メーカーと交渉中だが、新興勢力の奇瑞汽車（安徽省）と合弁で大連市に工場を建設する案が有力。１１年３月末までに決定し、１１年中の着工を目指す。当初年５万台で生産を始め、将来的に１５万台程度に引き上げる。生産車種は四輪駆動の中型車を検討し、販売の合弁会社も設立する見通し。
　富士重の海外工場は８９年稼働の米国に続き２カ所目。中国には０４年から本格輸出を始め、１０年度は前年度比約３割増の６万３０００台の販売を計画。現地生産を始めることで１６年３月期には１０万台以上にする考えだ。
　日本メーカー各社は中国重視の姿勢を強め、広州モーターショーでも次々に現地車を打ち出している。
　トヨタ自動車は小型車「Ｅ’Ｚ（逸致）」とスポーツクーペ「ゼラス」を発表した。トヨタは１０年の中国販売を８０万台程度と見込むが、１１年は１０％以上の増加を計画しており、早期に１００万台超えを果たしたい考えだ。１２年には吉林省長春市の第２工場を稼働させ、生産能力を９２万台に増強する。
　It was clarified on the 21st that Fuji Heavy Industries was reaching final negotiations with local manufacturers and for first time it would start factory construction in China. It had aimed at operation in the year 2013, and when that was completed, all major passenger car manufacturers in Japan would finish moving into China. After replacing the US in 2009 as the world's biggest automobile market, the market in China would expect further expansion in 2011 by 20 million. In the Guangzhou Motor Show that began on the 20th, individual companies appealed to strategy cars that aimed at extending their share, and further advancing and strengthening the system of production etc. .

Although Fuji was negotiating with two or more local manufactures in China, the idea of erecting a plant in Tairen City under joint management with the newly emerging Kirui Automobile (Anhui Province) was gaining forceful support. It would be decided by the end of March in 2011, and it aimed at starting construction in mid 2011. Production would start with 50,000 a year at first, then would be improved to about 150,000 in the future. As for the production model, the medium-size car of the four-wheel drive was expected to be reviewed, and a joint venture company would be established for its sales.

For Fuji this would be the second overseas factory following the United States that operated in 1989. Formal export to China was started in 2004, and in 2010, sales was planned to reach 63,000, roughly a 30 percent increase in sales compared with the previous year. It was thought that it would become 100,000 or more by starting the on-site production for the period up to March, 2016.

The posture for Japanese manufactures to value China was strong, and in the Guangzhou Motor Show on site car maker came out one after another.

Toyota Motor announced the compact car "E' Z (Yizhi )" and sports coupe "Zerasu". It was expected that sales for 2010 would be 800,000; for the year 2011 the plan was an increase of 10% or more, and thinking that it would accomplish exceeding one million in an early stage. The second factory in Changchun city of Jilin Province would be operative in 2012, and production capacity would then be reinforced by 920,000.

It is noted that despite the recent diplomatic trouble between China and Japan, business ties between the two countries continue as usual.