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Geared For Success
The Australian automotive industry’s renowned innovative ability, maturity, flexibility and customer focus is helping satisfy international demand for exciting, cost-effective motor vehicles and reliable automotive components.
Australia’s automotive firms have acquired significant expertise and flexibility in engineering platforms. Modifying production techniques to domestic requirements has created an ability to respond rapidly to ‘niche’ market opportunities. Japanese and international companies look to Australia for R&D, engineering, testing, design and as a source of quality components.
In 2003 the industry exported goods, services and intellectual property worth about A$5bn. Vehicles manufactured for export include the Toyota Camry, Mitsubishi Magna/Diamante and a wide range of Holden and Ford models. Component makers in Australia include Japanese parts manufacturers such as Bridgestone, Calsonic, Denso, Hirotec and Sumitomo.
Since 2001, a number of major R&D facilities have been established in Australia. Toyota recently invested A$47m to establish a research centre serving the Asia Pacific, capping a decade of investment totalling A$1.6bn.
“Australia has a well-developed and advanced infrastructure, as well as a pool of qualified, experienced automotive specialists,” says Kazutoshi Minami, Director, Toyota Motor Corporation. “In our view, Australia has an important role to play as a partner in the continuing development of motor vehicles for customers across the world.”
Corporate R&D labs fit into a network of cooperative automotive research facilities bringing together universities, industry and state organisations. For example, German component maker Schefenacker Vision Systems has partnered with Australian re-searchers to make new car mirrors based on intelligent modelling and smart materials.
Such networks enable component makers to produce technologies used by global automotive firms to produce modern and efficient vehicles. Bishop Steering Technologies, for example, licenses steering technologies used in 20% of all passenger cars manufactured each year. Software used in electronic car control systems, along with telematics and intelligent transport systems, are also developed in Australia.
