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10:00
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11:20 |
The Increasing Importance of Parts Makers
The role of auto parts makers in car development is becoming more and more important with the increasing sophistication of environmental and safety technology. As OEMs rapidly increase overseas production and step up their efforts to develop low cost cars for the newly emerging markets, the technical ability of the parts makers is becoming a vital factor in the competitiveness of the auto manufacturers. Representatives from the world's top two parts makers, Robert Bosch of Germany and DENSO of Japan, who are fiercely competitive with their superior technological capabilities, talk about company strategy and the future role of the parts maker.
Moderator : Nagato Ito, Head of Automotive Group, Nikkei Business
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| | 10:00-10:40 | 10:40-11:20 |
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11:35
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12:15 |  |
 | | Generating New Values in the Tyre Industry
Tetsuji Mino, President, Sumitomo Rubber Industries
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, selling mainly Dunlop and Falken brands, has been able to increase domestic market share and profit ratios, by concentrating management resources on Japan and Asia. In recent years, in order to overcome the crucial problem of depleting oil resources, the company has developed and marketed various eco tyres which reduce car CO2 emissions; these include tyres with less rolling resistance and tyres made with a higher percentage of non petroleum raw materials. President Mino will speak about how, with these tyres, the company strategy puts the emphasis on protecting the environment and aims to contribute to a more sustainable society.
Moderator : Chikako Ishiguro, Senior Staff Writer, Nikkei Business
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60min | |
13:15
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14:00 |  |
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14:40 |  |
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15:30 | |
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| | Panel Discussion: The Future of Alternative Fuels-Japan's Issues and Choices
Ikutoshi Matsumura, Senior Vice President, Nippon Oil Corporation
Haruhiko Ando, Visiting Professor, Kyoto University
Ken Koyama, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
Takaaki Umezawa, Partner & Managing Director, Japan, A.T. Kearney
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15:45
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16:30 |  |
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Toyota Motor's Goals
Katsuaki Watanabe, President, Toyota Motor Corporation
It was 1933 when Kiichiro, the eldest son of Sakichi Toyoda, used the funds received from assigning the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works patent for the G. Type automatic loom to set up the automotive department which would become the predecessor of Toyota Motor Corp. That was 74 years ago; this year Toyota looks set to sell more cars than any other company in the world. President Watanabe, who is fond of saying, 'I want to be number one for quality' rather than volume, will talk about how the company will move forward. He will include the company's environmental and safety activities, which adhere to the spirit of creativity exemplified by the tenet 'We must vigorously promote research and creativity and always stay ahead of the times'.
Moderator : Yoshiya Sato, Editor-in-Chief, Nikkei Business
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16:30
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17:20 |  |
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| | Panel Discussion:
The Rapidly Changing Asia Pacific Auto Market
Osamu Masuko, President, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
Susumu Hosoi, President, Isuzu Motors
ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations) and neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, show potential for market expansion.In 2006 1.5 million cars were sold in the 4 main ASEAN countries, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Although this was less than in the previous year, due to the increased price of oil, sales are predicted to rise to 2.5 million by 2012 and the number of cars produced is expected to top 3 million. At the same time, vehicle exports from Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Australia continue to expand. We will hear from two companies, which were among the first to open up these markets, about their strategies and how things are going on the front line in each country.
Moderator : Tetsuya Taniguchi, Editor, Nikkei Business
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17:30
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18:15 |  |
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Honda's Environmental Strategy
Takeo Fukui, President, Honda Motor
Honda, which has become the seventh largest auto manufacturer in the world by 'Doing things their way' under the motto of 'Be the first to do what other companies won't', will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year. In addition to developing ground-breaking clean diesel and fuel cell vehicles, they continue to take on challenges far outside the automotive area such as the first jet engine in the world produced by an auto manufacturer, solar batteries, bio fuels and research into inegenomes. The one thing common to all these projects is the indefatigable pursuit of sustainable mobility. President Fukui, who leads Honda's group of engineers driven by creativity and dreams, will talk about how they will make their next great leap forward.
Moderator : Satoshi Kawashima, Editor-in-Chief, Nikkei Business Online
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18:15
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19:00 |  |
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The Nissan Renault Alliance in a Realigning Auto Industry
Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Nissan Motor Co. & Renault S.A.
Of the many mergers & acquisitions that took place at the end of the 1990s, only the alliance between Nissan & Renault was a success. Although Nissan suffered their first fall in profits in the year ending 31 March, 2007, the global alliance is growing steadily closer. Following the phenomenal success of the Renault Logan, they have decided to build a low cost car in India where they will launch a joint venture with a third company bringing in local capital. As we see signs of further restructuring in the industry, Carlos Ghosn, Chief Executive of both Nissan and Renault, will talk about the strategy for taking this alliance to the next level.
Moderator : Joseph White, Detroit Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal
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