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In this issue
1.24 million units were produced by JAMA members in
Europe
in 2003, consolidating the Japanese automobile manufacturers’ position in the enlarged European marketplace. They have achieved this by providing attractive products to customers while responding to their social needs and continuously placing utmost importance on the protection of the environment and consumer safety. JAMA members, as an integral part of the European Industry, are contributing to the sustainable development of the automotive industry in an enlarged
Europe
and are strengthening
Europe
’s competitiveness via direct investment in production and research and development.
The Forum for the Automobile and Society brings together decision makers from the motor industry and motoring organizations, key policy makers from major legislative institutions, as well as other stakeholders. JAMA is a member of the Forum, together with two JAMA members), and is an proactive supporter to the forum’s activities and debates. To further the work of the Forum and drive forward its agenda over the next five years a number of Thematic Working Groups have been set up: Competitiveness, Environment, Mobility and Safety. The Thematic Groups will, in the first instance, develop short discussion papers reflecting the relevant issues for the Forum. These papers will be soon published by the Forum.
JAMA fully supports the Commission’s intentions to restructure and harmonise motor vehicle and fuel taxes in
Europe
. The factual situation across the 25 member States shows excessive divergence of policies and practices that have resulted in harmful fragmentation of the EU’s internal market. This fragmentation has had significant negative impacts on industry and consumers as the disparities in taxation frameworks have remained a barrier to reduce price across Member States and effectively commercialise new vehicles in a single market fashion.
The proposed amendment to Directive 98/71/EC on the legal protection of designs introduced by the Commission on
14 September 2004
still raises significant concern. JAMA is particularly concerned that the Commission is considering significant regulatory changes in the EU market without having demonstrated any likelihood of benefits to the primary stakeholder – consumers. These proposed regulatory changes would result in the introduction of copy parts in the EU market which potentially present considerable vehicle and consumer safety concerns.
by Peter Nunn
Japanese cars have long had a name for quality and dependability. In today’s world, however, you soon find there’s plenty more on offer besides that. Japanese cars in 2004 can be engagingly different and inventive. From the clever, compact packaging of Honda’s Jazz supermini, to the cutting edge hybrid technology of the Toyota Prius, to the zoomy, super smooth rotary engine in Mazda’s groundbreaking RX-8, Japanese cars now have the ability to push boundaries as any others around.
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