“Turkey plays a very important role in the automobile industry”

The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers was founded in Paris in 1919. It is known as the “Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles” (OICA).The organization'smembershipcomprises37 national trade associations around the world, including all major automobile manufacturing countries, thereby covering virtually the entire motor vehicle industry all over the world. The organization maintains permanent committees which conduct activities in the fields of technical affairs, communication, and industry statistics. In addition, theOrganization's Exhibition Committeecoordinates international motor shows. The annual ordinary meeting of the OICA held in Istanbul on November 1-2. Patrick Blain, President of OICA, gave some information about their activities and shared his ideas about future of automotive industry. Blain says that Turkey is playing a very important role in the automobile industry.

Could you briefly introduce OICA to our audience? What are OICA's recent studies and projects?

OICA is the representative organisation of the automobile industry at the international level. The general purposes of the organization are to defend the interests of the vehicle manufacturers, assemblers and importers grouped within their national federation. OICA is particularly active in the field of technical matters and the international harmonisation of technical automobile regulations. OICA is the leading official source in data on production and now sales and cars in use within all its members. These figures are to be extended to the whole world, including non-OICA countries.

Could you please give us information about your members? How often do you get together with your members?

Itsmembershipcomprises 37 national trade associations around the world, including all major automobile manufacturing countries, thereby covering 85% of worldwide automobile production. OSD is the Turkish member of OICA, a very active and efficient organization that hosted the OICA 2012 General Assembly in Istanbul.

Apart from our General Assembly and committees meetings, OICA members have Council meetings twice a year: one in spring during the Geneva motor show, the other in autumn just before the General Assembly.

Could you share some information about your committees? How are committees formed? What kinds of studies are executed by committees?

OICA has 4 working groups, namely the technical, statistical, exhibition and communication committees. Participation to these committees is open to all OICA members. Their activities can be summarised as follows:

The technical committee serves as technical adviser to theWorld Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP 29)of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It assists WP 29 in the development of international technical regulations affecting motor vehicles and trailers. The technical committee prepares detailed studies on subjects including noise, air pollution, and safety, such as braking, lighting and visibility, occupant crash protection, improved performance of vehicles in crashes, and improved compatibility among vehicles in crashes.

The Technical Committee monitors the potential impact of proposed new regulations on energy consumption and informs and advises governments and intergovernmental agencies on these potential impacts.

• The statistical committee provides reference international statistics on world automobile production, sales and in use vehicles.

• The exhibition committee harmonises organisation between different motor shows exhibitions and establishes an annual calendar of motor shows on the basis of its accreditation rules.

• The communication committee relays to the press, media, policy makers, non-governmental organisations input from global automotive industry experts on issues affecting the automobile industry through press conference andpress releases.

China has become biggest automobile market

What is the current situation of automotive industry in the world? Would you give us some information about developing and promising countries?

The pattern of the world automobile industry has undergone profound changes in recent years. The market growth has now shifted to emerging countries and in a short period of time, China has become the first automobile producer in the world as well as the first automobile market. Together with India, Brazil, Russia and others, these countries will account for the main production locations and markets. Prospects for the future are very positive, taking into account their potential as illustrated by the number of vehicles per inhabitants.

What do you think about Turkish automotive industry? What is the importance and role of Turkish automotive industry in the world?

Turkey plays a very important role in the automobile industry. A number of manufacturers, and in particular European manufacturers, have production facilities in Turkey. The competitiveness of these plants together with a large access to the European market through the EU – Turkey customs union, has made the Turkish automobile industry a key player in the strategy of manufacturers.

How would you evaluate the performance of automotive production in 2012 and 2013 in the world?

Production will reach close to 80 million all types of vehicles. Even with the European market crisis, the rest of the world is booming. For 2013, prospects are positive for the emerging countries and negative for Europe. We cannot give a figure yet, due to the uncertainty of the European economy, but the global result should remain anyway positive.

Automobiles of the future

What is the recent prominent subject(s) in automotive industry these days?

Better and more efficient petrol engines are the key to each manufacturer future. That goes through improving existing engines (diesel and gas) and developing new ones (hybrid and full electric). Safer cars, consuming less, and reducing the cost of operation for users are the subjects we are working on.

What kind of progress do you expect in automotive industry in next 5 years?

Connected vehicles, new technologies coming in the cars, the integration of your smart phone in your car,… all these are the New Frontier of the car industry. This is what I think will change dramatically the use of our cars in the future. Cars exchanging data while circulating, automatic internet link with the manufacturer checking online your car systems were yesterday in the science fiction movies, now it is something that is on test! We cannot figure out yet the tremendous progresses in our industry to come.