Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2016 in the subject Business economics - Industrial Management, grade: 3,7 (93%), California State University, Fullerton, language: English, abstract: The paper analysis the automotive industry in general as well as the relative position of the Volkswagen AG. Furthermore, VW's competitors are assessed and recommendations for actions are formulated. In the beginning the creation of the automobile seemed less of a need and more of a luxury, as the cars could only be afforded by the well off. The very first steam car took to the road in France in 1768 – but Cugnot's novel idea did not trigger the beginning of the car industry. After Henry Ford’s model made its debut, owning a car was a symbol of status, because it could only be afforded by the wealthy. Once the process of Henry Ford’s mass production was introduced, cars could be afforded by a wider dynamic of people, and ownership became an affordable growing trend. The production of automobiles was a great help to the economy. It provided jobs across industries including positions in steel and machine tool makers for the different metal parts of the car. The increase in the need of supplies and other parts of the car including the battery, head lights, paint, and interior upholstery, were the driving forces for new businesses to thrive. Cars being a part of the everyday norm meant they would need routine car maintenance which became a major source of business. This also led to the increase of petroleum sales as the demanded use of cars increased. When WWII came the US was able to use the jeep for military use, additionally Chrysler reworked the jeep design to create tanks. Moreover, car production in Europe turned its focus from “the people’s car” to cars designed for the military.

After tracing the history of the development of China's automobile industry, this book examines four cases of foreign-invested passenger car projects -- American Motors (Chrysler), Volkswagon, Peugeot, and Panda Motors. Then, on the basis of empirical data and theories of rational choice applied to the Chinese government, the author predicts the future progess of the automotive industry in China. This is the first book to study comprehensively the historical and political development of this vital sector of the Chinese economy.

This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Multinational corporations (MNCs) have long played a crucial role in the Chinese economy. This role is one that is set to continue in the post-pandemic era as China works to transit to a high-quality growth model that is more sustainable and innovation-driven. With global experience and front-line involvement in some of the most pressing economic, technological, and environmental issues of our day, leading figures in MNCs and chambers of commerce are well placed to share insights that could potentially contribute to policymaking and development strategies so that everyone can “make the most” of China’s future. This collection of essay aims to share these invaluable insights with a wider audience, offering balanced and diverse perspectives from companies and advocacy groups working on a range of issues related to China’s domestic development, international economic cooperation, and China-US competition. These insights are useful not only for the wider business community, but also for academics, policymakers, students, and anyone trying to deepen their understanding of this exciting period of “transition and opportunity,” and make the most of China’s bright future. .

Offers insight into the Chinese economy through the lens of the auto industry, uses case studies to illustrate China's explosive growth over the last three decades, and explores the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese economy.

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. China is both the fastest growing motor vehicle market and the fastest growing vehicle producer. Contents of this report: (1) Introduction; (2) China Becomes a Major Motor Vehicle Producer; (3) Foreign Investors in Chinese Motor Vehicle Industry: General Motors Now the Market Leader; Independent Production vs. Foreign Cooperation; (4) Impact of China on the U.S. Automotive Market: Chinese-Made Vehicles Not Imminent Factor; Major Chinese Impact in Automotive Parts; Competitive Labor Costs; (5) U.S. Policy Issues in Economic Relations with China; Administration Focus on Chinese Auto Sector Commitments; Congressional Concerns with Competition from China; (6) Conclusion. Charts and tables.

The automotive industry is still one of the world's largest manufacturing sectors, but it suffers from being very technology-focused as well as being relatively short-term focused. There is little emphasis within the industry and its consultancy and analyst supply network on the broader social and economic impacts of automobility and of the sector that provides it. The Global Automotive Industry addresses this need and is a first port of call for any academic, official or consultant wanting an overview of the state of the industry. An international team of specialist researchers, both from academia and business, review and analyse the key issues that make vehicle manufacturing still the world’s premier manufacturing sector, closely tied in with the fortunes of both established and newly emerging economies. In doing so, it covers issues related to manufacturing, both established practices as well as new developments; issues relating to distribution, marketing and retail, vehicle technologies and regulatory trends; and, crucially, labour practices and the people who build cars. In all this it explains both how the current situation arose and also likely future trajectories both in terms of social and regulatory trends, as the technological, marketing and labour practice responses to those, leading in many cases to the development of new business models. Key features Provides a global overview of the automotive industry, covering its current state and considering future challenges Contains contributions from international specialists in the automotive sector Presents current research and sets this in an historical and broader industry context Covers threats to the industry, including globalization, economic and environmental sustainability The Global Automotive Industry is a must-have reference for researchers and practitioners in the automotive industry and is an excellent source of information for business schools, governments, and graduate and undergraduate students in automotive engineering.