ACEA interpreted the World and Turkey automotive market for ODD
Representing 15 European car, van, truck and bus manufacturers, European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) supports a free and fair competition in automotive industry. Stating that Turkey is an important trade partner of EU in automotive industry, ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert shared his forecasts regarding the developments in automotive market and the future of the market with our readers.
Could you briefly introduce ACEA to our audience? What are ACEA’s recent studies and projects?
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), founded in 1991, represents the interests of the 15 European car, van, truck and bus manufacturers at EU level. Its membership consists of the major international automobile companies, working together in an active association to ensure effective communication and negotiation with legislative, commercial, technical, consumer, environmental and other interests. The members of ACEA are competitors in the automobile market place and support free and fair competition as a trade policy and a legal concept.
ACEA is an Economic Interest Grouping. Its headquarters are based in Brussels and made up of the Secretary General and the Secretariat. In 1995 and 2004, ACEA opened additional offices in Tokyo and Beijing.
Technical expertise and advisory input comes from over 50 different working groups, made up of experts from the member companies. ACEA was established as a response to the gradual shift to Brussels of government responsibility for many of the complex economic, social, technical and legal issues resulting from closer European integration. The origins of ACEA lie in two older associations that represented both national automotive associations and vehicle manufacturers in Brussels.
To get its messages heard ACEA produces regular publications such as the Pocket Guide, as well as press releases and other material that are authored in response to relevant legislative and practical developments. These can be found on the newly-refreshed ACEA website and are updated regularly.
ACEA’nın çalışma grupları / ACEA’s working groups
Could you share some information about your current committees ? What kinds of studies are executed by ACEA committees due to current developements in the market?
At ACEA, the basic unit for technical work and coordination of positions are the Working Groups. These are formed in response to the need to address detailed technical policy issues as they arise. Most of the issues examined by these working groups are related to new EU policy and legislation affecting ACEA’s member companies. Recently created Working Groups include the Automotive Aftersales Working Group, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Working Group, which were founded in order to coordinate industry responses to those issues.
Not all Working Groups produce studies or reports, and those that do, do so on a variable timetable. Frequently studies are commissioned by ACEA to be carried out by independent third parties.
The work of ACEA is overseen by the Joint Committee, which brings together senior officials and top technical experts from ACEA’s member companies. This in turn supports the Board of Directors, which is made up of the CEOs of ACEA’s members. The Board determines the strategic direction of the association as a whole, and meets four times a year.
“2014’te hafif bir büyüme kaydedileceğini düşünüyoruz / Though we may grow slightly in 2014”
How would you evaluate the performance of automotive market 2014 in the world?
ACEA does not make concrete predictions about future growth rates, though we do reckon that the EU market has ceased contracting, and may grow slightly in 2014. Presently, ACEA estimates have suggest and approximate 2% on average rise.
Regarding production, OICA figures show that global production in 2012 was 84,221,672 in 2012, rising to 87,249,845 in 2013, a rise of 3.6%. This rate of growth is consistent with estimates of trend growth rates by other sources, such as Frost & Sullivan.
AB'deki toplam tesciller, 2013’te 11,85 milyon birime düştü / Total registrations in the EU reached a low of 11.85 million units in 2013
Could you give information about Competitiveness, Market and Economic situation in EU countries?
The six years since 2007 have seen a period of continuous decline in total new passenger car registrations in the EU overall. Total registrations in the EU reached a low of 11.85 million units in 2013, down from around 15.5 million in 2007. OICA figures show that EU production was 16,238,031 in 2013, a slight decline from 16,183,846in 2012 of -0.3%.
ACEA estimates that the motor vehicle market may have bottomed out in the last few months of 2013, and is expecting slight growth in 2014, in line with the recovery in EU GDP growth.
Globally, the market for passenger cars is more buoyant, with higher sales in the US and in emerging markets. However, ACEA does not keep statistics on global markets. For more detailed information, please go tohttp://oica.net/category/production-statistics/
Also we would like to discover the new trends in automotive industry covering market details, innovation and R&D developements.
Today’s safer roads and cleaner, more efficient vehicles are the direct result of recent and ongoing investments in R&D. They are also proof of the innovation and skills that characterise a highly competitive European automotive sector. The industry applies for 9,500 patents annually.
Typically, R&D is a strategic and long-term process; automotive R&D relies on significant investment and, increasingly, partnership with stakeholders. It takes time to carry out R&D and undertake thorough tests to deliver production-ready technologies. Bringing them to market is yet another step, which is why vehicle manufacturers need decade-long lead-times to implement new technologies and requirements. As the technology matures, there will be increasing use of alternate powertrain vehicles, such as EVs and Plug-in Hybrids. These new or recently improved technologies are becoming more and more widespread and are in demand – these represent an area in which the automotive industry can take a lead in developing and improving solutions. ACEA reckons that electrically chargeable vehicles could make between 2-8% of the market by sales by 2025.
Additionally, the development of automation and driverless technologies could well revolutionise the way we drive and use our vehicles, as well as reducing road deaths. Further, a number of manufacturers are branching out into car sharing services, that could potentially reduce congestion and improve urban mobility outcomes.
Transport and mobility are a prerequisite for economic prosperity and social activity, but also pose significant challenges for sustainability. In the decades to come, automotive research will focus on areas such as transport rationalisation, improving road safety , increasing connectivity and focusing on the environmental impact of increased mobility needs.
AB motorlu taşıtların net ihracatı, 97 milyar Euro'ya yükseldi / EU net motor vehicle exports have risen to €97 billion
What is the current situation of automotive industry in the world? Would you give us some information about developing and promising countries?
Today the sector finds itself at a critical juncture, particularly in Europe, with the economic crisis having taken a harsh toll. Although benefiting from the strong growth in vehicle sales globally (particularly in BRIC countries and other emerging markets), Europe’s automobile industry faces a difficult situation in its home market, which is threatening its future global competitiveness. Sales have been on a downward trend for the past number of years because of weak consumer confidence, though growth appears to be returning now.
Local European challenges include significant cost pressures that cannot be passed on to the price-sensitive consumer, overcapacity for some manufacturers and markets, a high cost base, increasingly stringent and expensive legislation, growing competition from imports and, ultimately, low profitability. It is for this reason that EU net motor vehicle exports have risen from €70 billion in 2011, to nearly €97 billion in 2013, and is why European automobile manufacturers are in favour of free, balanced and reciprocal trade agreements. The European automobile industry is ready to meet the challenges it faces across the world and to support Europe on its ‘mission growth’ of boosting industry’s share of GDP to 20% by 2020.
What kind of progress do you expect in automotive industry in next 5 years?
The next 5 years could see significant developments in the automotive market globally, with smarter and cleaner cars coming onto the market, and with emerging economies demanding more advanced models. Meanwhile, manufacturers are working to consolidate designs so that one vehicle type can spawn several versions, in order to better respond to specific regional tastes in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Finally, the next 5 years could potentially see total global production exceed 100 million for the first time, an important milestone.
“Otomotiv sektöründe Türkiye, AB'nin önemli bir ticaret ortağı” / “Turkey is a significant trade partner with the EU in automotive”
What do you think about Turkish automotive industry? What is the importance and role of Turkish automotive industry in the world?
Turkey is a significant trade partner with the EU in automotive. Turkey is the EU’s 4th largest export market in units (388,250 in 2012) behind only the United States, Russia and China. Similarly, Turkey exports 318,265 units a year to the EU, placing it third, behind South Korea and Japan. Finally, Turkey is the largest importer of commercial vehicles into the EU and is the 4th largest export market for commercial vehicles from the EU.
ACEA and its members look forward to continuing working with the Turkish automobile industry, with its long history of automotive production. Further, ACEA is eager to continue the dialogue that has led to the cleaner, safer and smarter cars we see on our roads today.