Based on the revised Japan Revitalization Strategy, the 2014 Automobile Industry Strategy presents Japan’s comprehensive direction for the automobile industry, consisting of measures toward the development of advanced domestic markets, including actions to disseminate next-generation vehicles, as well as toward overseas business expansion, with an analysis of the challenges that the industry may face in the mid to long term.

The strategy consists of a variety of measures, including the following:

1. Global strategy

   Formulating a world-leading, advanced domestic market focusing on global challenges including environmental and energy limitation, as well as encouraging global operational presence :

   • Encouraging global operational presence (strategically utilizing EPAs and other international frameworks);
   • Stimulating domestic markets (revision of motor vehicle taxation, etc.);
   • Promoting next-generation vehicles (creation of initial demand, acceleration of infrastructure development); and
   • Promoting research and development of innovative internal combustion engines.
2. Strategy towards creating a comprehensive business model utilizing a social system centered on vehicles.

   Addressing a variety of challenges, including an aging society, urbanization, environmental issues, and disaster control, utilizing a social system centered on vehicle so as to produce new sources of competitiveness which will drive the industry to hold a leading position in the world:

   • Automated driving (development of hazard anticipation and avoidance technologies, international standardization of the technologies, and study for legal and regulatory issues; and
   • Big data/information services (study for a new business model).
3. Strategy for research, development, and human resources

   Conducting efforts for strategic selection and concentration as well as for developing R&D and production systems, while enhancing collaboration frameworks through industry-academia partnership, amid growing needs for cost reduction, diversification of automobile models, and expansion of technology fields concerned:

   • Enhancing collaboration frameworks (identification of six prioritized fields, specification of the areas in which they collaborate, and formulation of a road map); and
   • Pursuing coexistence and co-prosperity between the automobile industry and the automobile parts, components and materials industry (support for the global niche top companies, promotion of appropriate transactions of the auto industry, developing structure for compliance relating to the competition laws).
4. Strategies for motorbikes, buses, trucks, forklifts, and wheeled devices for transportation

   Challenges and measures for overcoming the challenges for industries concerning motorbikes, busses, trucks, forklifts, and wheeled devices for transportation were compiled.

Outline of the strategy(PDF:1,419KB)  (in Japanese)

Full text of the strategy(PDF:8,367KB) , (ZIP:6,665KB)  (in Japanese)

November 17, 2014

Automobile Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau