Tokyo Paper: Toyota To Delay New Factories in China

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Toyota decided to postpone construction of a new plant in Tianjin, China, and is considering the delay of another new plant in Guangzhou, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun writes, quoting unidentified sources. This due to sluggish vehicle sales in the wake of anti-Japan protests over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands dispute, Asahi Shimbun’s sources said.

The two plants were expected to raise Toyota’s production capacity by 40 percent to 1.3 million units.

Reuters reports the same story, but is less definitive than the Asahi which claims as a fact that Toyota “will set a new construction schedule after examining sales trends in China,” and that Toyota “estimates it will take at least a year to regain their previous levels.” On Friday, another Japanese paper claimed that Toyota expects that it would take more than a year for Chinese sales to recover.

Toyota spokespeople were dismissive on Friday and could not be reached over the weekend.

If the slump in China indeed takes longer, the damage would not be isolated to Toyota. For the last three months, other Japanese manufacturers were similarly effected,


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Blowfish Blowfish on Dec 09, 2012

    some articles suggested this could end up being lose/ lose situation, as these investment dollar will end up else where and middle kingdom lost the opportunity forever. Or MK just dont give a damn. Nippon should be having an election soon. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b844d052-3ac1-11e2-bb32-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2EcSfsNSM

  • Mr Nosy Mr Nosy on Dec 10, 2012

    The Chinese Gov't MAY one day,be able to control/manipulate anti-Japanese sentiment with the finesse of an on/off switch,to its cynical & profitable ends.However,until Japan takes a lesson from Germany,it will likely be subject to increasing political & economic manipulation by emerging Asian countries regarding its past in Asia. Germany is subjected to far less(Except in the case of British comedy-as it's been institutionalized.)recrimination today,as it has regularly owned up to its past,beyond mere lip service. There might be billions of dollars at stake,but the rest of the world is fooling itself if it thinks China,North & South Korea,The Philippines, and the rest of Asia,will simply just eventually,"get over it & move on".

  • Oelmotor Oelmotor on Dec 10, 2012

    The Japanese automakers earned enough from China and it`s time to move on. I would not invest a single Yen in China until the CCP meets their demise. There are plenty of other Asian countries that would welcome a Japanese automobile factory.

  • Polar Bear Polar Bear on Dec 10, 2012

    The Chinese have learned/copied/stolen enough from the Japanese now. The Japanese are not needed anymore.This is the next phase of Chinese auto policy, where foreigers are kicked out (so long suckers!) and the Chinese are ready to take over.

    • See 2 previous
    • John Williams John Williams on Dec 10, 2012

      @el scotto "The Chinese are clever people, but this kind of dishonest greed is going to limit their development." Sounds like we and the Chinese aren't that much different, after all.

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