On Thursday, at a press conference held by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Toyota President Akio Toyoda welcomed Apple’s foray into the automotive industry, but at the same time, he stated that as a newcomer to the car industry, Apple needs to be prepared to fight in the next 40 years.
“As long as they have the technological capability, anyone can make a car,” said Akio Toyoda. “However, once they start making cars, I hope they realize that they need to have the ability to respond to user needs and various changes that will continue for the next 40 years.”
(Image source: AP)
“Technology companies entering the car market proves that the automotive industry is a sunrise industry and can provide users with more choices,” he further explained. “We welcome new players to join, but if they feel that they don’t need to prepare to stick to their commitments for 40 years like traditional car companies, then I think it’s unfair.”
In December of last year, Akio Toyoda said that electric cars are being overly promoted, but the carbon emissions during the power generation process and the cost of transitioning to electric cars have not been considered. However, with the global trend towards electrification, Toyota has few choices. At the end of last year, the Japanese government announced plans to ban the sale of fuel cars by 2035.
(Image source: Bloomberg)
Besides Toyota, BMW CFO Nicholas Peter recently stated that Apple’s entry into the automotive industry does not pose a threat to BMW. In an interview with Bloomberg, he said he is not worried and sleeps soundly. At the same time, he believes that competition is good, and BMW is currently in a position of industry advantage.
Earlier this year, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse stated that the company plans to increase the production of electric vehicle models by a quarter between 2021 and 2023, and increase its sales share from the current 8% to 20%, in hopes of further expanding its market share. In February, Zipse also openly questioned Tesla’s development prospects, stating that as traditional manufacturers continue to introduce electric vehicle models, Tesla will soon lose its dominant position in the electric vehicle field.🔗Source: WSJ, Bloomberg
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.