DOCSLIB.ORG

Customs Factory

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Customs Factory CUSTOMS FACTORY California-based Customs Factory specializes in designing and engineering custom and concept cars (similar to the above image) using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. Challenge: Customs Factory needs to design highly sophisticated one-off custom cars for their customers in a very short time frame with a “The 3DEXPERIENCE platform really helps Customs Factory small group of employees. meet the high expectations of our customers,” Dietz said. “It gives us the tools to take an idea and bring it all the way Solution: through to a manufactured, finished product, and helps us Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE® platform, with every little step along the way. including CATIA V6 for virtual product design, “From industrial design to surfacing and manufacturing, provides Customs Factory with the tools for everything is taken care of in one integrated software creating the elaborate cars their clients envision. system, which allows us to work without worrying about the Benefits: issues that may otherwise occur when going between different product development programs.” CATIA V6 allows the designers to move from industrial design to surfacing and manufacturing, FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN enabling seamless workflow for Customs Factory. TO THE SHOWROOM FLOOR With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Customs Factory provides its sophisticated customers greater No two projects are the same for Customs Factory. From real- precision and faster turnaround times, as well as life Mario Kart go-karts to sleek sports cars, each build presents creative solutions to their design challenges. a unique opportunity for Dietz and his team to test the boundaries of design-to-manufacture capabilities. Every project does begin the same way, however—with an idea. Using CATIA’s live rendering capabilities, Dietz is able to sketch his clients’ visions Bulbous, aerodynamic shapes reminiscent of 1950’s fright film digitally and then quickly convert that sketch into a 3D space craft; the otherwise faithful lines of a 60’s Buick Riviera representation of what the end product will look like. This re-contoured and stretched for a local customer; wild, sweeping allows the customer to become involved very early on in the windshields and interiors of what might be possible someday. design process. They may seem like dream cars of the future but there’s a Once the initial idea has been transformed into a 3D digital California company making one-offs of them right now, using model, it is time to refine the rough surfaces and ensure the design software that is allowing for not only the expression but functionality and manufacturability of the design. This process also the production of absolutely visionary vehicles. includes establishing proper gapping and tolerances between body panels to allow for all necessary movements, as well as THEN AND NOW ensuring that body design features, such as highlights, can be The automotive industry was forever changed in 1924 when realistically produced to meet the client’s expectations. General Motors began making annual model-year design One of the more in-depth and time consuming aspects of changes to stimulate the saturated US market. From custom-car design that Dietz has to address is creating what Cadillac’s introduction of the tailfin in 1948 to the sharp and are called the “B-sides,” or the non-visible surfaces of the car. futuristic designs of concept cars like the 2011 Mercedes The B-side has all the hidden attachment points for a given Silver Arrow, automotive designers are continuing to push part as well as additional bends and ribs to give the components the envelope in terms of design and innovation. But bringing and structures the strength necessary to perform their assigned these complex creations to life means tackling a host of real- function. Because the projects Dietz works on aren’t your typical world challenges. factory-built automobiles, creating extraordinary yet cleanly “Every project I work on presents different obstacles, and I’ve manufacturable parts that mirror the digital design can present used Dassault Systèmes technology exclusively on every one any number of challenges. of them,” said Louie Dietz, owner of Customs Factory. “The majority of my job is taking these large, complex Customs Factory, a California-based company that specializes surfaces and creating functional parts that can actually be in designing and engineering custom and concept car solutions, has worked with nearly every major automotive OEM, in addition to several well-known “designer” custom car shops, to deliver one-off automobiles for car shows, “Every project I work on presents celebrities and extreme enthusiasts, alike. different obstacles, and I’ve used At 16, Dietz was introduced to CATIA, Dassault Systèmes’ computer-aided design (CAD) software, by his uncle, who Dassault Systèmes technology taught at global security company Northrop Grumman. Now a exclusively on every one of them.” professional user of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform based on V6 architecture, Dietz employs its capabilities, scalability and ease — Louie Dietz, Owner of Customs Factory of use on a daily basis. produced,” Dietz said. He does this using a combination of various solid and geometric design workbenches in CATIA. As B-sides are being developed, it is especially important to factor in the assembly and kinematics. Doors swinging open and shut, steering wheel columns shifting up and down, seats moving forward and back all present potential points of contact, or clash, which create functional issues. CATIA’s clash detection tool assists in identifying where such design roadblocks are occurring as well as their severity. “Clash detection is the most important tool in the CATIA kinematics workbenches,” Dietz said. “We use it throughout the design process to make sure even the most minute misalignments don’t occur. This helps us avoid downstream manufacturing fixes. If we see that a clash is occurring on the computer model, we are able to make the necessary changes before the project goes any further.” PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS All design changes, regardless of what stage of the development process the car is in, are captured in CATIA and applied across all workbenches. CATIA is even capable of applying design changes backwards from the manufacturing floor to the master model. This can be especially beneficial in ensuring the reproducibility of a prototype design, although Customs Factory’s “one-off” business model doesn’t normally require the degree of reproducibility needed by a traditional OEM. In fact, Dietz noted, his business model wouldn’t work for a vast majority of the automotive market. “We deal with incredible time crunches compared to a typical OEM or engineering shop,” he said. “We’re basically engineering a completely running car in a timeframe of about four months with only two or three guys working on the project.” And those two or three guys aren’t necessarily working from CATIA simulating the window drop and Customs Factory’s Los Angeles office. While Dietz spearheads upward door swing (top) of a custom Tesla the projects, his team of primarily freelance designers is able (bottom). to effectively collaborate remotely thanks to CATIA. Of course CATIA isn’t just compatible with other Dassault Systèmes solutions, but with other CAD-supportive systems as well. This is especially beneficial for Customs Factory because, in order to create some of the atypical parts necessary to construct these creations, they have had to turn to 3D printing. “We rely heavily on 3D printing for our cars, especially creating custom hinges that, due to their geometry and shape, are impossible to make any other way,” Dietz said. “We’re able to create these free-form shapes in CATIA, and then export them easily to a metal-based 3D printing system. This equipment makes the transition from an idea to an engineered product much simpler.” A “CUSTOMIZED” MENU OF 3DEXPERIENCE TOOLS The 3DEXPERIENCE platform includes a wide array of applications, but for small firms like Customs Factory, the ability to pick and choose the software that meets their current needs is extremely advantageous. With the help of Focus on Customs Factory Idex Solutions, a Dassault Systèmes partner, Dietz selected A California-based company that specializes in ENOVIA to create new workspaces and foster collaboration designing and engineering custom and concept car amongst his designers, and he’s exploring the programming solutions, Customs Factory was founded in 2009. The and automation features in DELMIA. company’s goal is to design and build exceptional products for the automotive, aeronautical, consumer or “Customs Factory is still primarily an engineering fi rm, so business industries by taking an idea to the next level. CATIA is our main tool,” Dietz said, “but the functionalities and capabilities of these other applications are allowing us to Products: Design and engineering custom and concept transition into more of a product design, engineering and car solutions manufacturing fi rm. We can add on the other applications as we need them, and they all work together on the Revenue: Privately owned 3DEXPERIENCE platform.” While new customers currently are turning to Customs Factory For more information mostly through word-of-mouth referrals, Dietz believes that www.customsfactory.com will eventually change. He attributes some of the steep increase in customers he is now serving to his use of CATIA. “For prospects who are knowledgeable about the design technologies that are out there, if I tell them I’m using CATIA it lends quite a bit of credibility to my operation,” Dietz said. Focus on Idex Solutions “CATIA is the only product capable of handling the kinds of Idex Solutions has been dedicated to uncompromising complex and high-level projects my customers are looking quality and service since its inception in 1996. to create.” Specializing in the Dassault Systèmes portfolio, EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION Idex Solutions provides consulting and design services enabling our customers to successfully manage their Learning CATIA at such a young age is something Dietz found product development process from ideation to the very benefi cial.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Electric and Hybrid Cars SECOND EDITION This Page Intentionally Left Blank Electric and Hybrid Cars a History
    Electric and Hybrid Cars SECOND EDITION This page intentionally left blank Electric and Hybrid Cars A History Second Edition CURTIS D. ANDERSON and JUDY ANDERSON McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, and London LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Anderson, Curtis D. (Curtis Darrel), 1947– Electric and hybrid cars : a history / Curtis D. Anderson and Judy Anderson.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7864-3301-8 softcover : 50# alkaline paper 1. Electric automobiles. 2. Hybrid electric cars. I. Anderson, Judy, 1946– II. Title. TL220.A53 2010 629.22'93—dc22 2010004216 British Library cataloguing data are available ©2010 Curtis D. Anderson. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. On the cover: (clockwise from top left) Cutaway of hybrid vehicle (©20¡0 Scott Maxwell/LuMaxArt); ¡892 William Morrison Electric Wagon; 20¡0 Honda Insight; diagram of controller circuits of a recharging motor, ¡900 Manufactured in the United States of America McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Je›erson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com To my family, in gratitude for making car trips such a happy time. (J.A.A.) This page intentionally left blank TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms and Initialisms ix Preface 1 Introduction: The Birth of the Automobile Industry 3 1. The Evolution of the Electric Vehicle 21 2. Politics 60 3. Environment 106 4. Technology 138 5.
    [Show full text]
  • New Battery to Last 10 Times As Long
    Energy Grants Back Plug-In Cars, Ethanol By Sholnn Freeman Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 24, 2007; Page D03 The Department of Energy announced yesterday $17 million in grants to support the development of battery technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles and ethanol, two areas in the energy debate where officials in Washington and Detroit are closely aligned. The money will be offered as two grants, one for $14 million for the plug-in technology and the other for $3 million for ethanol. The money for battery development is intended to improve the technology's performance. The $3 million in ethanol grants will support engineering advances to improve how flex-fuel engines use the E85 blend… Foreign automakers are stepping up complaints that U.S. government policy is unfairly backing ethanol and plug-ins at the expense of diesels and traditional gas-electric hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius. Toyota is pushing to continue federal incentives for the cars. Diesel-engine makers and European automakers such as BMW and DaimlerChrysler are asking for more federal support for diesel technology http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012300870.html Ford Edge plug-in hybrid concept does 41mpg Mobilemag.com – USA. That HySeries Drive concept that was making the rounds at the Detroit Auto Show has been unleashed on the public in the form of the Ford Edge, launching the venerable American automaker firmly into the plug-in electric market. The new vehicle, running on a flexible powertrain, can guarantee up to 41mpg with no emissions. The innovative HySeries Drive uses a combination of gas engine, diesel engine, and fuel cell to achieve that rather remarkable mpg figure, which increases to 80 if you don't top 50 miles a day and, in the best cases, 400 miles between fill-ups.
    [Show full text]
  • Efficient Dynamics
    A subsidiary of BMW AG BMW U.S. Press Information For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Hector Arellano-Belloc Product and Technology Spokesperson 201-307-3755/ [email protected] David J. Buchko Corporate Communications Manager – West 201-321-6857/[email protected] Tim Gallagher Senior Manager, Nissan Technology Communications [email protected] 949-370-6862 Breanna Buhr/Brian Alexander JMPR for EVgo 818-992-4353 [email protected] [email protected] BMW AND NISSAN PARTNER ONCE AGAIN TO EXPAND DC FAST CHARGER ACCESS ACROSS THE U.S. TO BENEFIT EV DRIVERS An additional 174 EVgo-networked 50kW DC Fast charging stations have been installed across 33 states to facilitate easier longer distance electric vehicle travel for Nissan LEAF and BMW i3 drivers, and all EV drivers. EVgo is the nation’s largest public DC Fast charging operator, currently offering nearly 670 DC Fast charging stations across the U.S. An additional 50 dual-port DC Fast chargers are planned for 2017, through this partnership. Each of these publicly available charging stations offers both CHAdeMO and SAE Combo (CCS) connectors, suitable for all DC Fast charging- capable electric vehicles in the U.S. WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ and NASHVILLE, TN – January 24, 2017… BMW and Nissan, two of the top EV manufacturers, have again joined forces – this time with EVgo, the nation’s largest public DC Fast charging network – to increase public access to DC Fast charging stations across the US, with an additional 174 locations in 33 states now available to all EV owners in those markets, and over 50 more planned to be installed in 2017, supported by the partnership.
    [Show full text]
  • Visionary Vehicles, Inc. Confidential Executive Summary
    Visionary Vehicles, Inc. Confidential Executive Summary $25,980 Bricklin 3EV: Redefining the Price of Fabulous. November 4, 2020 It’s Time to Leave the Petroleum Century Behind Page 2 Today’s Realities Page 3 Today’s Passenger Cars ➢ Polluting ➢ Expensive ➢ Uninspiring ➢ The Same Visionary Vehicles is Changing That Page 4 New Definition of a Vehicle Creating a new auto segment and a vibrant consumer brand. The Bricklin 3EV removes historical design constraints and engages new “user-centered” design, engineering, and assembly disciplines . the result: an exciting, clean- powered mover of people and goods in a totally new, purpose-built product package. Page 5 The New Paradigm for New Energy Mobility Page 6 Overview ➢ Vision: New energy vehicles should be stylish, cool, safe, affordable, and electrifying . consumers don’t have to make compromises to own and drive terrific electric vehicles ➢ Mission: Create a new auto segment and vibrant consumer brand that moves you in wonderful ways, with electrifying zero emissions vehicles . redefining the price of fabulous ➢ Goals: o Construct a new financial model for the electric vehicle industry* o Develop, build, and sell luxurious, high performance, and safe 3-wheel all-electric vehicles . made in America o Source components, systems, and software from U.S. EV manufacturers and top-tier OEM suppliers o Make the Company’s retail distribution network available to other selected EV manufacturers (“open platform”) * Transparency Market Research has concluded that this is what the industry requires. Page 7 Opportunity ➢ Urbanization and changing consumer attitudes regarding vehicle ownership are shaping the future of auto-mobility ➢ Adoption of new energy vehicles is accelerating in virtually all global markets .
    [Show full text]
  • World Light-Duty Green Vehicles
    INDUSTRY MARKET RESEARCH FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, STRATEGISTS, DECISION MAKERS CLICK TO VIEW Table of Contents 2 List of Tables & Charts 3 Study Overview 4 Sample Text, Table & Chart 5 Sample Profile, Table & Forecast 6 Order Form 7 About Freedonia, Custom Research, Related Studies, photo: Toyota photo: Corporate Use License 8 World Light-Duty Green Vehicles Industry Study with Forecasts for 2013 & 2018 Study #2510 | August 2009 | $5700 | 317 pages The Freedonia Group 767 Beta Drive www.freedoniagroup.com Cleveland, OH • 44143-2326 • USA Toll Free US Tel: 800.927.5900 or +1 440.684.9600 Fax: +1 440.646.0484 E-mail: [email protected] Study #2510 August 2009 World Light-Duty Green Vehicles $5700 317 Pages Industry Study with Forecasts for 2013 & 2018 Table of Contents WESTERN EUROPE Continental AG ......................................... 245 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Daimler AG ............................................... 247 General ................................................... 107 DENSO Corporation .................................... 251 MARKET ENVIRONMENT Green Vehicle Demand by Type .................... 111 Fiat SpA .................................................. 253 Italy ....................................................... 112 Ford Motor ............................................... 255 General ...................................................... 4 France ..................................................... 117 Fuji Heavy Industries ................................. 259 World Economic Overview .............................
    [Show full text]
  • PHEV Final Report
    Cornell University College of Engineering Engineering Management Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Critical Analysis and Los Angeles Regional Feasibility Study Cornell University College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering CEE 5910: Engineering Management Project Professor Francis M. Vanek Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Critical Analysis and Los Angeles Regional Feasibility Study December 2010 Auret Basson, Mert Berberoglu, Whitney Bi Vincent DeRosa, Sara Lachapelle, Christina Lu Torio Risianto, Torsten Steinbach, Adam Stevens Alice Yu and Naji Zogaib Page | 2 Executive Summary This report is the product of a team project conducted at Cornell University for the Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Management. The project goal was to study the potential transition of light duty passenger vehicles to the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) concept, using the Los Angeles basin as the feasibility focus region. The analysis and findings should prove useful to governments, consumers, utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and other stakeholders. PHEVs incorporate both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, with a battery pack that can be recharged externally. This vehicle concept has been gaining attention due to its potential ability to reduce petroleum consumption and carbon emissions, especially when combined with sustainable, low-carbon electricity generation. A mass transition toward PHEVs has been seen as one possible measure for addressing concerns related to climate change, global peak oil, dependence on foreign oil, urban smog, and air pollution. The team began by conducting a literature review in order to gain background information on the PHEV. The scope of the literature review was limited to the existing PHEV technology in Europe, Asia and North America; the PHEV battery with a focus on the Lithium-ion battery; electrical infrastructure including charging stations, smart grid systems, and renewable energy; and finally a section summarizing government, consumer and other points of view regarding PHEVs.
    [Show full text]
  • Plug-In Hybrids: Best of Both Worlds
    Plug-In Hybrids: Best of Both Worlds Reykjavik September 18, 2007 Driving Sustainability Felix Kramer, Founder The California Cars Initiative [email protected] 1 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds “Nonprofit Startup”: CalCars itself is a hybrid •Engineers •Entrepreneurs •Environmentalists •Consumers/drivers Technology - Expanding the usual (demos) circle of decisionmakers Advocacy -Communicating messages of hope (buyers) -Approaching success! October 2003 2 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Expanding driver choice: new cars/line extensions 3 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Hybrids simplified: • Ford Escape • Honda Insight, Civic, Accord (cancelled) • Lexus sedans, SUV • Toyota Prius, Camry, Highlander • Nissan Altima • Many others on the way Modified from an EDTA diagram concept 4 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Electric “Plug-in” hybrid: Just add batteries Keep the freedom of the open road Modified from an EDTA diagram concept 5 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Cleaner, cheaper, domestic 6 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Putting renewable electricity to best use • Opportunity: for a world that hopes to have clean abundant energy, Iceland can show the roadmap • Transmission ->battery->motor, 70-80% efficient • Hydrogen from electrolysis->fuel cell, 20-27%; ICE, 7-9% (losses+CO2 if reformulate natural gas) • Worldwide, there’s never “extra” green electricity to “waste” as long as coal can be displaced anywhere • Even as range extender fuel, hydrogen will need to surpass cellulosic ethanol on a well-to-wheel basis • Note: ethanol used at power station is more efficient than burned in an internal combustion engine 7 PHEVs: Best of Both Worlds Meeting the European Union’s 120-130 CO2 target ElectGrid EV EV PHEV-32 PHEV-96 EV as EV as % EV as % Location g/kWh g/km gm/km gm/km % of ICE of diesel of HEV Calif 2004 236 39 101 65 18% 20% 31% U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • (Qingjiu) Tao Assistant Professor of Management, Lehigh University
    Washington D.C. July 16, 2008 Dr. Tom (Qingjiu) Tao Assistant Professor of Management, Lehigh University Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Regarding Research and Development and Technological Advances in Key Industries in China Overview of the Chinese Automobile Industry For automakers seeking relief from a global price war caused by overcapacity and recession, China is almost the only game in town. With just ten vehicles per 1,000 residents in China as of 2006 (as opposed to 940 in the United States and 584 in Western Europe), there seems to be plenty of growth opportunities. Not surprisingly, nearly every major auto company has jumped into China, quickly turning the country into a new battleground for dominance in this global industry. In addition, China has become a major auto parts supplier. Of the world's top 100 auto parts suppliers, 70% have a presence in China. China vaulted past Japan in 2006 to become the world’s number-two vehicle market (after the United States). In 2006, car sales in China were up 37%, and sales of all vehicles including trucks and buses (7.2 million in total) were up 25%. Reports of record sales, new production, and new venture formations were plenty. After China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the industry has been advancing by leaps and bounds. At the global level, China has moved to the third position in production behind the United States and Japan, and is slated to produce 8.5 to 9 million vehicles in 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Government Policies on Industrial Evolution: the Case of China's Automotive Industry
    The Impact of Government Policies on Industrial Evolution: The Case of China's Automotive Industry by Jianxi Luo Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Tsinghua University, China, 2004 Bachelor of Science in Thermal and Power Engineering Tsinghua University, China, 2001 Submitted to the Engineering Systems Division in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Technology and Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology September 2006 ©2006 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Signature of Author………………………………………………………………………………………...…. Technology and Policy Program, Engineering Systems Division August 5, 2006 Certified by…………………………………………………………………………………………………..... Daniel Roos Professor of Engineering Systems and Civil and Environmental Engineering Founding Director, Engineering Systems Division Thesis Supervisor Accepted by………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Dava J. Newman Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineering Systems Director, Technology and Policy Program The Impact of Government Policies on Industrial Evolution: The Case of China's Automotive Industry by Jianxi Luo Submitted to the Engineering Systems Division on August 5, 2006 in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Technology and Policy Abstract Governmental industrial policies have great influence on industrial performances and development trajectories. The infant industry theory has been the dominating theoretical foundation of the industrial policies in developing countries to protect and foster their immature industries. However, the successful application of infant industry theory is subject to many conditions, such as the economic and political environment in a specific country. In this thesis, the case of China’s automotive industry under strong industrial policies is used to demonstrate the complex dynamics between policies and industrial development, as well as the interactions between government and industry.
    [Show full text]
  • China's Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry
    Order Code RL33317 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web China’s Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry Updated April 4, 2006 Stephen Cooney Industry Specialist Resources, Science, and Industry Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress China’s Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry Summary China is both the fastest growing motor vehicle market and the fastest growing vehicle producer. Output and sales have grown from less than two million vehicles annually before 2000 to nearly six million vehicles in 2005. In the number of vehicles that it manufactures China has passed Korea and France, is on pace to overtake Germany, and would then trail only the United States and Japan. A disproportionate share of China’s output has always been heavy vehicles, but since 2000, China’s growth has been led by the increase in passenger cars. They now account for about half of China’s production. China exports or imports few motor vehicles: less than 200,000 of each. Exports are growing much more rapidly than imports and are mostly light trucks shipped to developing country markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. China’s industry has developed extensively with the aid of foreign direct investment, unlike those of Korea and Japan. This investment has been from major international automobile manufacturers, led by General Motors (GM), that are unlikely to promote Chinese exports in competition with their own products in other markets. As a consequence, the Chinese companies that have expressed an interest in exporting cars are those who are less dependent on such cooperation and may struggle to meet safety and emission standards in industrial countries.
    [Show full text]
  • China's Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry
    Order Code RL33317 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web China’s Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry Updated April 4, 2006 Stephen Cooney Industry Specialist Resources, Science, and Industry Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress China’s Impact on the U.S. Automotive Industry Summary China is both the fastest growing motor vehicle market and the fastest growing vehicle producer. Output and sales have grown from less than two million vehicles annually before 2000 to nearly six million vehicles in 2005. In the number of vehicles that it manufactures China has passed Korea and France, is on pace to overtake Germany, and would then trail only the United States and Japan. A disproportionate share of China’s output has always been heavy vehicles, but since 2000, China’s growth has been led by the increase in passenger cars. They now account for about half of China’s production. China exports or imports few motor vehicles: less than 200,000 of each. Exports are growing much more rapidly than imports and are mostly light trucks shipped to developing country markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. China’s industry has developed extensively with the aid of foreign direct investment, unlike those of Korea and Japan. This investment has been from major international automobile manufacturers, led by General Motors (GM), that are unlikely to promote Chinese exports in competition with their own products in other markets. As a consequence, the Chinese companies that have expressed an interest in exporting cars are those who are less dependent on such cooperation and may struggle to meet safety and emission standards in industrial countries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of China's Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle
    The Rise of China’s Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry Rachel Tang Analyst in Industrial Organization and Business November 16, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R40924 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Rise of China’s Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry Summary The automobile industry, a key sector in China’s industrialization and modernization efforts, has been developing rapidly since the 1990s. In recent years, China has become the world’s fastest growing automotive producer. Annual vehicle output has increased from less than 2 million vehicles in the late 1990s to 9.5 million in 2008. In terms of production volume in 2008, China has surpassed Korea, France, Germany, and the United States, trailing only Japan. A disproportionate share of China’s output was heavy vehicles in the 1990s. However, since 2000 China’s growth has been led by an increase in passenger cars, which now account for more than 65% of its vehicle production. China’s automobile industry has continued to expand despite the global economic downturn. From January to October 2009, more than 10 million vehicles were sold in China. If such growth continues, China is on its way to becoming world’s largest auto market. Unlike Korea or Japan, China’s automotive industry has developed extensively through foreign direct investment. This investment has come in the form of alliances and joint ventures between international automobile manufacturers and Chinese partners. The international automobile manufacturers are unlikely to promote Chinese exports that compete with their own products in other markets.
    [Show full text]