Lexus Moves Production Closer To China

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt
lexus moves production closer to china

That Lexus will come out with a new ES Hybrid, dubbed the ES300h, is no secret. Being an entry level Lexus, it has to watch its price point. It also has to contend with the high yen, most of the Lexi are exported. The Nikkei [sub] thinks it know how Toyota will solve this dilemma, at least partially. Toyota will make the ES300h on the Japanese island of Kyushu, “taking advantage of the site’s proximity to Asian suppliers of low-cost parts,” The Nikkei says.

“Asian suppliers of low cost parts” usually is code for China. Indeed, Toyota could be saying: “If we don’t go all the way to China, we might as well go halfway.” Kyushu sits midway between Tokyo and Shanghai. Other companies, such as Nissan, already make use of the strategic location.

Not only is Kyushu just short container hop across the sea to parts suppliers, it also is what the Nikkei calls “a convenient base for exporting to the growing Asian automobile market.”

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  • Unhittable curveball Unhittable curveball on Apr 14, 2012

    Assembling in China is the easy part, but the politics is not. Remember Toyota has two “girlfriends” in China – FAW and GAC – both powerful state-owned groups, with the former being much more politically connected with Beijing. Toyota is trying to keep a delicate balance between these two, since both wants a piece of the Lexus pie, and Toyota doesn’t want to make either grumpy. In contrast, Nissan has a much simpler relationship since she is only dating Dongfeng ;)

    • See 1 previous
    • Advo Advo on Apr 14, 2012

      @Quentin If Ford doesn't feel it can set up in the Southern States and remain non-UAW, then I'd rather the vehicles were produced in Mexico instead of some other low-cost country. The sooner Mexican skills, productivity, and living standards can be raised, the sooner they will be able to feel they don't need to leave their home in search of an acceptable, better life.

  • Type57SC Type57SC on Apr 15, 2012

    Don't they already build the ES or did in the past at Kyushu? They plan to build ESs at Guangzhou in 2016. that's more newsworthy. This seems like just some shifting of production plants within Japan. If you think this is a newsworthy step to overcome 8X JPY/USD, I don't get why. Looks more like the reposting of non-meaningful info without sniff tests similar to what you guys take shots at other sites for doing.

  • El scotto My iPhone gets too hot while using the wireless charging in my BMW. One more line on why someone is a dumbazz list?
  • Buickman yeah, get Ron Fellows each time I get a Vette. screw Caddy.
  • Dusterdude The Detroit 2.5 did a big disservice by paying their CEO’s so generously ( overpaying them ) It is a valid talking point for for the union ) However , the bottom line - The percentage of workers in the private sector who have a defined benefit pension plan is almost non existent - and the reason being is it’s unaffordable ! . This is a a huge sticking point as to have lower tier workers join would be prohibitive ( aside from other high price demands being requested - ie >30% wage gain request ) . Do the math - can a company afford to pay employees for 35 years , followed by funding a pension for a further 30 years ?
  • El scotto Human safety driver? Some on here need a human safety thinker.
  • Carlson Fan Stupid vehicle, that can't do any of the things a truck should be able to do. If I want something fast/quick and sporty I'll get a corvette or a 4 dr sport sedan. Taking a truck & neutering it to try and make it into something it's not is just pointless. But maybe that's the point of this road disaster
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