Asia after the storm

In recent issues, Automotive Engineering International reported how technology is helping some of the major North American and European suppliers cope with doing business in the digital age. This article, the third in a series, addresses the same subject with some of the major suppliers and OEMs in Asia.

To say that this is a rapidly changing world must rate as the understatement of the present century; so many changes have taken place in its first half-year. Japan is still reeling from the aftermath of the Bubble Economy's burst.

Only two automakers, Toyota and Honda, maintain full independence. Isuzu is now firmly part of the General Motors empire, and Mazda is under the Blue Oval umbrella. Suzuki and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) have affirmed their alliances with GM, each taking a capital infusion from the world's largest OEM (although Suzuki insists it is a token of friendship that it also picked up GM shares).