Temporary gap in the car field Toyota's unfinished game in China


On July 26, at the Provincial Key Project Work Conference held by the Guangdong Provincial Government, Zhong Yangsheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Governor of the Guangdong Province, first disclosed information that Guangzhou Toyota’s vehicle project had been approved by the State Council. Then, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group and Toyota China also confirmed the news. GAC and Toyota's marriage contract has finally crossed the most difficult one. "Like two people falling in love, the two sides decided to join forces, and the one who is now the key has finally obtained the approval of the parents." Although the marriage certificate has not yet arrived, the two sides have planned to complete the preparation of marriage within a month or so. It's a good thing. For this marriage, GAC and Toyota have been waiting for a year. As the dust is about to settle, the entanglement of the new grace and old grudges encountered by GAC and Toyota in the marriage process seems to have become a bit out of place. In the face of this marriage that is about to become a reality, all parties involved in it need to "look forward." With Changchun, Tianjin, Chengdu and Guangzhou, Toyota's Chinese chess game can be described as well-intentioned. Jiamei, a joint venture with GAC, has already used up two joint-venture vehicles for Toyota, but Toyota's chess pieces have not finished yet. In fact, Toyota still has a pawn in its hands: a commercial vehicle. Toyota is currently only a Sichuan-based joint venture, and Toyota has one seat left. Where this piece will fall will have far-reaching implications for GAC. GAC, of ​​course, hopes to take this piece off. According to sources, GAC is preparing to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Toyota. In addition to cooperation in passenger vehicles, it will continue to cooperate in commercial vehicles. With the approval of GAC Toyota's entire vehicle project, GAC has already held three Guangzhou passenger car projects including the Guangzhou Honda, Honda export base and Guangzhou Toyota. However, commercial vehicle shortboards have always existed. Currently, Guangzhou Automobile's commercial vehicle companies such as Yangcheng Automobile, Guangzhou Isuzu and Guangzhou Denway have not formed a climate in China. Guangqi Zhi is not small. To reach the 15% market share limit for the new automobile industry policy set by the large auto group, GAC has a certain distance. Judging from the current situation, Guangzhou Gas's potential for excavation in the field of passenger vehicles is becoming smaller, and it will be a logical way to complete the shortcomings in the commercial vehicle sector. Will Toyota really cooperate with GAC in the field of passenger cars and commercial vehicles? Judging from the current layout of Toyota in China, FAW has already occupied a joint venture of a Toyota passenger car and a commercial vehicle, respectively. If Toyota then places the remaining joint venture of a commercial vehicle on GAC, Toyota will China will form a pattern of comprehensive cooperation with FAW and GAC respectively, and Toyota will also fall into the pattern of North-South balance. Will Toyota find new joint venture partners outside FAW and GAC? It is worth noting that Toyota’s technical support for the Brilliance Jinbei Haishi Passenger Car Project has not been interrupted. Will the technical cooperation between the two parties rise to a joint venture? The answer Toyota once gave is: According to the Chinese government’s automobile industry policy, further cooperation with Brilliance Jinbei is “not impossible.” The final answer is still unknown. However, the exact location of this joint venture will surely be an important bargaining chip for GAC and Toyota’s future marriage.