Title: The world car concept and the volume manufacturer

Authors: Robert A. Lutz

Addresses: Executive Vice-president, Chrysler Motors Corporation and member of the Board of Directors, Chrysler Corporation, USA

Abstract: The concept of the ||world car|| is examined historically and in the light of fluctuations in the price of oil and of the expansion of the Japanese into the world market. This paper suggests ways in which governments and the EEC can enhance the ability of the European motor industry to compete successfully with the Japanese: by eliminating distortions in the European ||home market|| due to differing policies on tax, price control and state subsidy; by evolving a consistent approach to Japanese investment in plant in Europe; by concerted moves by governments to less restrictive monetary and fiscal policies; and by reviewing how social policies affect international competitiveness.

Keywords: fiscal policy; fuel crisis; global market; Japanese imports; Japan; monetary policy; price controls; state subsidy; taxation; volume manufacture; world car; automobile industry; oil prices; Europe; automotive manufacturing; Japanese investment; social policies; international competitiveness; government policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1986.026117

International Journal of Technology Management, 1986 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.377 - 384

Published online: 27 May 2009 *

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