>Once were?
I think this year is the first year in many, many years that Toyota's domestic market shrank. Profit's per vehicle must be shrinking as well. IMO, the edge these companies had in the late 80's is disappearing. Yes, they are healthy companies, and will remain so -- but the market for Hondas or Toyotas is not expanding like it once was.
>So what makes them less competitive, with a weaker yen and higher value added product, excellent quality and incredible brand recognition, they are as strong as ever.
Again, Toyota and Honda are gradually losing their domestic market. IMO this is significant.
>Increasingly irrelevant now as most progressive companies are moving to open the field to any suppliers, part of keiretsu or not.
Whenever a Japanese company tries to improve suppliers in the US, they help their competitors as well. Honda and Toyota are not growing profits like they did in the past.
>This is nothing new Peter
Japan took an early, aggressive stance in key high-tech industries and became a powerhouse. Now other countries have followed in her footsteps and created overcapacity of high-tech goods, which drives down profits. Because Japan has few natural resources, Japan is particularly vulnerable. |
