Yasuaki Hashimoto: China to Have Powerful

　　During an interview with Sohu Auto, Yasuaki Hashimoto, the Managing Director of Nissan (China) said that China would have a powerful automotive industry within five years. He believed that India also had the potentials to become outstanding in terms of the development of auto industry.

　　As a Japanese insider in automobile industry who is working in China, Yasuaki Hashimoto thought that China had already become a recognized powerhouse of vehicles. However, China's media and experts are too concerned about the scale of production and sales.

　　According to his standards, in addition to a large enough auto market, a powerhouse of automotive industry should be equipped with other characteristics such as a rising trend of economic development, a vast potential market, individual consumers’ great purchasing power and so on. At present China has already had the characteristics.

　　Nevertheless, in Yasuaki Hashimoto's opinion, China has not become a powerful giant as to the development of auto industry. Based on his views, in addition to large automobile manufacturers, world-renowned brands, ownership of core technology and advanced management level, strong capabilities of product development are also necessary. What's more, auto companies should have a high sense of corporate responsibility and automakers should concern human and social sustainable development.

　　Concerns about corporate social responsibility are also part of Nissan's fundamental strategies. Dongfeng Nissan, Nissan's joint venture partner in China, was the only passenger-car corporation which won the award of Most Responsible Companies in 2009.

　　Yasuaki Hashimoto believed that China had obtained basic knowledge about the way to develop a powerful auto industry. For example, China has set developing domestic auto industry as a national strategy and enhanced the competitiveness of automotive part industry. In addition, building a more efficient and more professional management mode and developing transportation infrastructure have become a consensus.

　　But Yasuaki Hashimoto stressed that besides the above consensus China should insist on technology research, master the core technology and strengthen the development of relevant industry such as after-sales service. China should search for new development while maintaining the original growth. (Translator: Qinghua/Hanxin)

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　　http://auto.sohu.com/20100302/n270532315.shtml