SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR JAPANESE AUTOMAKERS IN NAFTA

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(1) Japan's industrial policy in the 1950s was to foster the automobile industry by strengthening the auto supporting industries like the electric ＆ electronics appliances and machinery. Japanese firms, unfortunately, were hit by severe business circumstances such as twice oil crises in the 1970s, rapid appreciation of the yen in the 1970s-1980s, voluntary export restraint (VER) and forming regional integration e.g., NAFTA.(2) Coping with these happenings, Japanese automakers have innovated and developed new technology to reduce demands for inputs and expanded FDI to build their transplants in NAFTA.The transference of the Japanese management brought some difficulties in management in the host country in one hand. On the other hand, it gave constructive impacts on the host communities by improving productivity reducing demands for inputs and improving the productivity through quality control circles, and creating new employment.(3) Now automakers in the world face some more difficult objectives of developing the advanced technology of recycling ＆ reuse materials, the intelligent transport systems (ITS), and the fuel cell electric vehicle technology. These objectives need so huge amount of investment for development that it is rather hard for any manufacturer to accomplish any of those objectives by itself even though it is a dominant oligopolistic automaker. Automakers look for a strategic alliance or strategic(CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE)collaboration to overcome any of those difficulties.(4) Findings and the analysis of this research can contribute to the business world that is under the pressure of fiercer competition.