Japanese Automakers Continue to Strengthen the Purchase of EU Automotive Parts

As automotive manufacturers, JAMA members take pride in the positive contributions they make to the EU economy and to the communities in which they operate. Through direct investment in local production, research, and development (JAMA members currently have 15 R&D centers in the EU), and product innovation, Japanese automotive manufacturers have become an integral part of the fabric of the EU economy.

In recent years, JAMA members have increasingly turned their focus to the purchase of automotive parts and to the development of globally optimizing policies. This has resulted in a steady increase in the purchase of EU-manufactured automotive parts by Japanese automakers. In fact, figures for the first half of 2004 point to a 7.1% increase from the previous year. Japanese vehicle manufacturers have purchased an increasing amount of EU automotive parts over the past 9 years (please see graph below). Today, EU car parts manufacturers deliver more than 80% of the values of the parts used in the European production plants of Japanese automotive manufactures.

JAMA members operating in the EU intend to continue purchasing EU parts that are competitive, innovative and meet increasingly stringent EU environment and safety standards. Japanese manufacturers foresee EU investments in the region of € 2.6 billion between now and 2009, for R&D manufacturing and assembly in the EU25[1]. This will only help to strengthen the relationship between Japanese manufacturers and EU automotive parts manufacturers.  This commitment not only contributes significantly to the EU economy and the consolidation of the EU automotive sector, but also strengthens the competitiveness of European suppliers and promotes global competition.