Toyota Lays Ground For R&D In China
Toyota is the last of several other major manufacturers to open an R&D center in China. The company held a cornerstone-laying ceremony last Saturday in the Southeast Economic Development Zone in Changshu, China. The city is not far from Shanghai, close to many other manufacturers.
The center is owned 100 percent by Toyota. Construction, including a test track, is scheduled for completion in 2013.
The Nikkei [sub] says that “these moves to expand R&D in China is a double-edge sword for Japanese automakers because of increased risk of technologies leaking out. But they fear that if they’re slow to move, they could fall behind General Motors Co. and other U.S. and European players that are engaging in local R&D.” Despite the noises back home about leaking technologies, GM was amongst the first to move development to China, where it now owns several R&D centers. Other companies moved development and design to China. These center can be owned 100 percent, a joint venture is only neded for car manufacture.
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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I am just waiting for those who criticize (sometime with reason) American and European automakers of being slow and behind the curve to now criticize Toyota.