2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Heterogeneity and Competitiveness of the Japanese Automotive Industry: a Socioeconomic Perspective
| Project/Area Number |
16K17231
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
HEIM Stephane 京都大学, 文学研究科, 准教授 (30767900)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | Japanese car makers / Competitiveness / Heterogeneity |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During this first year of research, I mainly focused on gathering data from the 7 main Japanese car makers and core suppliers in Japan, China, and Mexico. I had two extensive fieldworks in Mexico (May 2016), and China (August 2016), and had several interviews with managers from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, and suppliers in Japan. Based on this research, my first empirical conclusions confirm my hypothesis: there is a growing heterogeneity among Japanese car makers regarding their internationalization, that might affect their future competitiveness.
Besides, I presented my results in several symposiums, and 2 papers on Toyota were published in the Kyoto Journal of Sociology (no.24, Dec. 2016), and in the Monthly Article of the French Network for Asian Studies (Feb. 2017).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
My initial plan was merely to have statistical research and literature review during this first year with less empirical research. While I intended to design a theoretical framework on the competitiveness of Japanese car makers, I found out that, as assumed, in its process of internationalization, Toyota still is a very domestic-centered firm in terms of decision-making processes, while Honda & Nissan follow another path, that of growing independence of their foreign plants. I focused on a third group, that of Mazda and Mitsubishi (now part of Renault-Nissan Alliance), assuming that their strong domestic reliance might have the effect of an "iron cage" for their future endeavors. The Mazda case shows that now its top management is struggling in keeping competitive, while developing abroad.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
My second year of research will mainly be dedicated to the regionalization processes in Asia of Japanese car makers. Taking into account the ASEAN Economic Community entering into effect in 2018, the growing technological independence of Chinese car makers in their joint-ventures, the acquisition of Mitsubishi by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and the ongoing debate over merger of Suzuki with Toyota (for Toyota, this might help enter the Indian market), I am assuming that new "market architectures" might have side effects on Japanese car makers in Asia.
In terms of outcomes, I am currently editing 2 issues on the regionalization of Asian auto industries for IJATM (No 4, 2017 & No 1, 2018), and I have a publishing contract with the CNRS Editions for a book on Toyota to be published in 2018.
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| Causes of Carryover |
国内旅費を減額したため残額があり、それは2017年度出版予定の費用に充てる。
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
2018年3月出版。
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