China gains biggest share of automakers' investments
China boosted its share of newly announced vehicle capacity expansion projects last year to 60 percent of the world total of $15.6 billion (97 billion yuan) -- evidence that automakers still consider China to be their top "growth" market, concludes a survey by the University of Windsor.
China's share of global investment last year virtually matched its performance in 2011, when it attracted 57 percent of $13.2 billion in new production projects, according to the survey, which was compiled by the university's Office of Automotive & Vehicle Research.
(All investment figures are in U.S. dollars.)
The survey measures investments in new assembly plants and expansion of existing factories that boost capacity. Spending on automakers' own component plants isn't counted. The authors of the study gathered their information from automakers, research organizations, trade associations and publications.
The new data suggests that automakers believe China's economic slowdown last year was only temporary. Last year, China easily outpaced the next-closest country, Mexico, by $7 billion. Russia, Brazil and United States rounded out the top five.
General Motors topped all automakers with $3.7 billion worth of investments. It was followed by Chrysler Group, as both companies continued to bounce back from their 2009 bankruptcies.
China's reign
China has been the world leader in attracting investment since 2002 and has captured more than half of all spending in each of the past three years, according to the study.
This year, China's vehicle sales are expected to top 20 million units, cementing its status as the world's largest automotive market. "Sales-wise, nobody is going to touch them, period," said Tony Faria, co-director of the university's research center. "Production-wise, the same is true given the current level of capacity in China -- plus, new capacity that is still piling in."
(All investment figures are in U.S. dollars.)
The survey measures investments in new assembly plants and expansion of existing factories that boost capacity. Spending on automakers' own component plants isn't counted. The authors of the study gathered their information from automakers, research organizations, trade associations and publications.
The new data suggests that automakers believe China's economic slowdown last year was only temporary. Last year, China easily outpaced the next-closest country, Mexico, by $7 billion. Russia, Brazil and United States rounded out the top five.
General Motors topped all automakers with $3.7 billion worth of investments. It was followed by Chrysler Group, as both companies continued to bounce back from their 2009 bankruptcies.
China's reign
China has been the world leader in attracting investment since 2002 and has captured more than half of all spending in each of the past three years, according to the study.
This year, China's vehicle sales are expected to top 20 million units, cementing its status as the world's largest automotive market. "Sales-wise, nobody is going to touch them, period," said Tony Faria, co-director of the university's research center. "Production-wise, the same is true given the current level of capacity in China -- plus, new capacity that is still piling in."
