Western European Car Industries & Economies of Scale
There are a lot of factors that determines whether or not a company will be successful. These factors are usually derived from economics. One factor that I plan to focus on is scale economies or better known as economies of scale. Firms that have expanded their scale of operations to obtain economies of mass production have survived and flourished. Whereas smaller firms who have not been able to expand have usually ended up as high-cost producers. The topic discussed will be the Italian automotive industry and how it is affected by economies of scale.
As the economic integration of Europe continues, it is likely that increasing international competition will affect firms in European
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This is due to continuing European integration and that the Italian automobile industry is dominated by a company known as Fiat. Fiat was founded in July 1899. Fiat started with a plant in New York that manufactured then established relationships with other countries leading to exports to France, Austria, Great Britain and Australia. Since Fiat was called on for a lot of equipment during WWI, Fiat became well known throughout Europe. As years passed Fiat began to also acquire other automobile companies such as Lancia, Autobianchi, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. In 1988, 59.9% of the vehicles sold and approximately 99.2% of the automobiles produced in Italy were made by Fiat. The company continued to enter numerous international agreements for the manufacturer of Fiat products and to expand its investments. This also lead to new factories that were built outside of Italy, which were South Africa, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Turkey and Mexico. The Fiat Group expanded internationally by making a major capital increase, huge investments in innovation, applying cost cutting measures and a restructuring …show more content…
For example, let's say Fiat had a supervisor at a plant that supervised thirty employees but the same supervisor was highly skilled in managerial procedures. If he/she could supervise fifty employees, then Fiat should have that supervisor manage fifty employees instead of thirty or fewer employees. This way Fiat would save money on additional supervisor costs. Managerial specialization on a large scale also means that the expert can focus on one department instead of various
This paper will focus on the future of the U.S. Automobile industry as the United States recovers from the worst recession we have experienced in the past 75 years. I will provide information on the following topics pertaining to the U.S. automobile industry:
The automotive industry is without a doubt an industry that has massive implications relating to the United States economy as well as affecting every American household. Shifts in the supply and demand of automobiles influence the current and future household purchases. Households must determine what amount of their hard-earned income to allocate to certain necessities. Because most households have a budget, the amount spent on transportation it limited. While most industries have an effect on the economy, the automotive industry has far-reaching implications for most Americans. Not only are the workers affected but the many spin-off jobs created as well as the consumers that must purchase the automobiles manufactured.
The world of technology is ever changing and advancing. With the automotive industry in play technology is constantly surpassing what is available today with what can be done for tomorrow. Technology and the automotive industry go hand in hand with constant improvement to components of cars. Due to technology advancement there is competition within the car industry, especially between American car companies and European car companies. European car companies provide their buyers with innovative variety and revolutionary luxuries. European car technology is superior to American car technology due to their safety, entertainment, and luxury features.
The important barriers to entry as discussed in Chapter 2 are known as economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements, switching costs, access to distribution channels, and cost disadvantages independent of scale. These barriers benefit existing companies already in operation and are significant for many reasons. Economies of scale occurs when a company incurs cost advantages due to it’s size and scale of operation. Since the company can manufacture a large number of products, the price of the item produced decreases with costs being spread across the quantity produced.
The automotive industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy for every country in the world. It involves a large number of corporations and institutions engaged in the manufacturing process of motor vehicles including designing, developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling. It contributes to the global economic growth by generating a significant return and creating a ripple effect on supporting the supply chain as well as providing job opportunities for the skilled workers (ACEA, 2016).
It is no doubt that automobiles have become a way of life in the current society besides the transport sector contributing immensely to the economic growth of every cou...
The purpose of this essay is to provide a complete analysis of BMW Group. First, some background information about the company will be provided for a better comprehension of this study. Next, BMW will be assessed from a microeconomic point of view: its demand curve, organisational structure, customers, suppliers, strengths, weaknesses and its operating environment. Then, this firm will be reviewed in context of its sector from a macroeconomic perspective and more specifically its market environment, followed by a PEST analysis of other external factors such as GDP, interest rate, cost of raw materials. This study will be further quantified by a ratio analysis in order to evaluate BMW’s financial health. In the end you can find a conclusion and also a bibliography, which can be used as further reading material.
Ford’s production plants rely on very high-tech computers and automated assembly. It takes a significant financial investment and time to reconfigure a production plant after a vehicle model is setup for assembly. Ford has made this mistake in the past and surprisingly hasn’t learned the valuable lesson as evidence from the hybrid revolution their missing out on today. Between 1927 and 1928, Ford set in motion their “1928 Plan” of establishing worldwide operations. Unfortunately, the strategic plan didn’t account for economic factors in Europe driving the demand for smaller vehicles. Henry Ford established plants in Europe for the larger North American model A. Their market share in 1929 was 5.7% in England and 7.2% in France (Dassbach, 1988). Economic changes can wreak havoc on a corporation’s bottom line and profitability as well as their brand.
Scale Economies: the industry contains several very large players and multiple medium to small players
Global competition is changing the environment facing most companies today. As trade barriers fall and transaction costs decline, new global competitors are entering previously more isolated domestic markets. In response to this intensified competitive pressure, local companies are pushed to enhance performance by innovation and adopting process and product improvements.
Maybe they are not like other companies for several reasons, but both shows a solid competitive trajectory and keep operating at side of those powerful companies to improve their competitive level. The use of further scheme with the end of an ingenious product based with some characteristic found in Chrysler-Fiat marketing researches. Their product operation and market system remain in the global market because the strategic alliance. We cannot compare the potency and the impact over the world from GM, Ford, Toyota, Volwswagen, and Daimler no only the marketing approach with the public, but their earnings are more clear than Chrysler and Fiat. Chrysler and Fiat compete with two giants automobile industry individually, so the journey is more difficult without the alliance. We can see how the alliance can be formulate in the exhibit III of the case; if Chrysler and Fiat opt for work separetly will place each one behind of the giants of the auto industry as GM, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Dailmer. Chrysler can expect its sales of $59 billion and Fiat $83 billion in contrast with the other five companies, their sales are below in the list. Volswagen’s shows sales of $149 billion which is the least one, but it is higher than Chrysler and Fiat earnings. With the alliance, Chrysler and Fiat can generate a sale income of $142 billion which it is more than the
As a result of the increased demand of cars, the competition among car companies is becoming intense. Although the market of car is the biggest growing market in the world, there are still some companies who make cars failing year after year. However, there are some outstanding car companies such as The BMW Group performing distinctly.
AutoEdge is facing crisis since millions of its automobiles has had to be recalled due to product quality issues. Many things should be considered in order to implement a proactive response to rectify the situation. As the research analysis, I have been tasked will helping to rebuild AutoEdge’s reputation as well as to reduce and control operating costs. When making any decision on implementing change within the organization market analysis must look at the market structure of the organization. Market structure is made up of the relationship that exists between buyers, sellers, competition, product differentiation, and ease of entry into and exit from the market. The article “Review of Market Structure” (n.d.) defines market structure as the “microeconomic characteristics of different markets” and include such elements as competition level, high versus low entry barriers, and scale (Review of Market Structure, n.d.) To make the decision the decision to relocate, AutoEdge must analysis and evaluate of market structure. This report will discuss the four different types of market structures: monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and pure competition. Additionally, it will outline the type of market structure AutoEdge fits into, how that market structure impacts the level of competition, elasticity of demand, price, and position in the industry.
A vehicle is one of the biggest purchases a person will ever make. Over the years, the prices of an automobile have increased due to the rise of inflation. Due to a price index, the price of an automobile changes over a certain period of time. Economists compare averages of automobiles to calculate the cost of each vehicle that presents itself on a car lot. When all of the above is calculated within the purchase of an automobile, it affects every area of making the automobile to selling the automobile. All of these factors are impacted together for the automobile industry as a whole.
The automobile industry is a pillar of global economy. Globally automotive contributes roughly 3 % of all GDP output. It historically has contributed 3.0 – 3.5 % to the overall GDP in the US. The share is even higher in the emerging markets, with the rates in china and India at 7 % and rising. China produces the highest number of automobiles followed by US and Japan (oica.net, 2015). The industry supports direct employment of 9 million people to build 60 million vehicles and parts that go into them (oica.net, 2015). Many other industries such as steel, iron, glass, aluminium, textiles etc. are associated with the automotive industry and resulting in more than 50 million jobs owed to the auto