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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.
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.
Don’t hold your breath. As you know, GM has never done anything correctly (according to most of the B&B(?)).
*shows up*
The only thing GM does correctly is their truck division.
And Corvettes.
Eldard – thanks for showing up!
So you don`t think the Cruze, CTS or Regal are competitive?
Weren’t all those cars designed primarily in Europe, Australia, and/or Asia?
Cruze is a Daewoo.
bikegoesbaa – the CTS was designed for the US. I could have added the Equinox (designed and sold primarily in the US) and the Corvette (as ott mentioned) which again is primarily a US car.
Eldard – your original critique of GM doing nothing other than trunks right didn`t say GM North America. GM is a global company so it is irrelevant if some of the cars I listed are non-US designed (although all sold in the US).
Buying Daewoo is GM’s best decision so far.