Why 'pack up, ship out' is not a feasible option for car makers in current times

  • Even when lured with incentives or threatened with economic consequences, cost of moving production may cloud over any possible plans of shift for car makers.
  • With Covid-19-related developments posing financial challenges, auto makers are more likely to stay put than ship out.

FILE PHOTO: Employees work on a production line inside a Dongfeng Honda factory after lockdown measures in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. (REUTERS)
FILE PHOTO: Employees work on a production line inside a Dongfeng Honda factory after lockdown measures in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.
Get Launch Updates on
Notify me

At a time when many are trying to woo car makers to set up shop and still more are predicting existing production facilities to pack up from one country and move to another, the ground reality has all the potential to favour a status quo. For reasons ranging from disruptions in production owing to lockdowns to better incentives elsewhere, there have been signs that global car makers may sit down for a re-think but so far, the pros of staying put appear far more feasible than moving to greener pastures lock, stock and barrel.

Take the instance of US trying to get car makers to cross over from Mexico with President Donald Trump using threats and incentives in equal measures. While some car makers like Ford, FCA, Hyundai and Volkswagen in the past have doubled down on US investments, it is hardly at the cost of facilities elsewhere. With the new North American free trade agreement (NAFTA) coming into effect from July 1, Trump sought to portray it as an engine of American job creation but Japanese car makers promptly tripled pay of their plant workers in Mexico rather than move out. The reason for this is because NAFTA mandates 40 per cent or more of parts for each passenger vehicle to be manufactured by workers who are paid at least $16 an hour, for these vehicles to be tariff free. And yet, it may have proven to be more cost effective to hike salaries than any other decision for companies like Toyota and Keihin, a Honda-affiliated car parts maker. According to a report in Financial Times, cost of moving production just doesn't justify the decision to move production. "We don’t want to be whipped around by a policy that we don’t know how long it will last," an executive at a Japanese car company was quoted as saying.

Also check these Cars

Find more Cars
Toyota Camry 2024 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon2487 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 50 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Toyota Bz4x (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
BatteryCapacity Icon72.8 kWh Range Icon405 Km
₹ 70 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Toyota Glanza (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon1197.0 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 7.18 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Toyota Belta (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon1462 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 10 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Toyota Camry (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon2487.0 cc FuelType IconMultiple
₹ 46.17 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Toyota Fortuner (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon2755.0 cc FuelType IconMultiple
₹ 33.43 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers

Also Read : Mexico's President revs up the car industry

File photo of workers assembling a Mitsubishi Pajero at a Mitsubishi car factory. (REUTERS)
File photo of workers assembling a Mitsubishi Pajero at a Mitsubishi car factory. (REUTERS)

Then there is the whole debate around whether car makers will re-think on the importance they tend to attach to China. When Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak in the country - around February, production came to a grinding halt and it had a rippling effect on markets elsewhere because China is almost like an engine driving the global automotive world. Some predicted that the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities and that global players may look at diversifying. Japan even offered incentives to home-grown auto companies to bid China farewell and return home. Far from packing up, companies are staring with hopeful eyes at the Chinese market to trigger a revival for their global fortunes. A few have also entered tie-ups with local players and announced further investments.

Also Read : Why China may still be an oasis for global car makers during Covid-19 drought

China may be the largest automotive industry in the world but to shut shop and ship out in current times of financial uncertainties and dwindling demand from any country or region is a move that is hardly practical or economically feasible. With cost-cutting and cost-saving measures in the works, the driving force behind investments in countries like China, Mexico and even India remains as relevant as ever, if not more.

Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape.

First Published Date: 07 Jul 2020, 10:29 AM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS

Check Latest Offers

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Select a dealer

Want to get the best price for your existing car?

Powered by: Spinny Logo
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy
Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.