Now that Ford and Holden have announced the 2017 closure of their Australian manufacturing and assembly operations, what are the prospects for the industry and its key remaining participant, Toyota? Unlike…
Those scrutinising government support of the car industry have changed their views over time.
judepics/Flickr
For many decades, Australians have regarded a local car industry as a demonstration of our domestic capability. Sometimes, we have paid dearly for our enthusiasm. In the late 1970s, import quotas limited…
The withdrawal of General Motors in Australia follows the step back of government support for GMH in the US.
Hugo90/Flickr
General Motors has confirmed it will cease manufacturing in Australia from 2017, citing a “perfect storm of negative influences”. GM chairman Dan Akerson said these forces include “the sustained strength…
“Building cars in Australia is just not sustainable.” That was GM Holden managing director Mike Devereux, announcing the closure of Holden. Ominous words for Toyota as well. Toyota responded that Holden’s…
Chairman and Managing Director of GM Holden, Mike Devereux, has confirmed the company will cease making cars here by 2017.
Julian Smith/AAP
General Motors Holden has confirmed speculation it will withdraw from car production in Australia by the end of 2017. The announcement by Holden comes after days of sustained public speculation and calls…
Holden may shut up shop in Australia, and the government is already considering the fallout.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The idea of further government support for the ailing automotive industry (AKA the Holden problem) generates considerable political and economic debate. For economists and business academics, it comes…
Made in the UK: nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard and Type 45 frigate HMS Dragon.
MOD/Tam McDonald
The controversy over the BAE Systems decision on warship building has been dominated by myth, emotion and pleading. Arguments are raging about English versus Scottish jobs, about shipbuilding as a key…
Six-legged hexapod robots can navigate rugged terrain and access places human workers cannot.
CSIRO
In 1977, George Lucas’ Star Wars introduced us to R2-D2, an intelligent bot that embodied modern assistive robotics: he could anticipate needs and perform a number of tasks with minimal instruction. Almost…
3D printing holds many advantages for the manufacturing industry, including the ability to print moving parts.
John Biehler
It’s not easy being a small business in the current manufacturing environment. The face of manufacturing is changing, and businesses are eager for technological advances that could give them a competitive…
Big car firms now make huge sums from financial subsidiaries.
Martin Rickett/PA
In both the US and UK, policymakers have been excited to see a small but significant increase in manufacturing activity and exports. While growth in manufacturing jobs has been sporadic, the creation of…
Cheap construction of intricate designs.
fdecomite
3D printing stocks jumped early this week following analyst Kenneth Wong’s assertion that the market could triple in the next five years. But why the sudden attention? The possible economic impact of 3D…
Volkswagen Brasil has announced its plan to terminate production of its iconic Type 2 bus, better known to many as the Kombi van. Boasting the longest commercial production line of any vehicle since manufacture…
If cars aren’t the way to go in manufacturing, maybe we should look to green technology.
Flickr/Michael Caven
Australia’s ailing car manufacturing industry will receive a A$200m funding boost. And all cars in Commonwealth fleets will have to be Australian-made. The policy was announced today by Kim Carr, Minister…
The Australian car manufacturing industry is in trouble – but does the government provide less support than other countries?
“By international standards our support [of the automotive industry] is modest, so we have to work hard to attract the new investment.” – Industry minister Senator Kim Carr, Lateline, 22 July. The idea…
The Rudd government’s changes to fringe benefit tax concessions on cars is good environmental policy, but bad news for the manufacturing sector.
AAP
The decision to terminate the statutory formula method under the fringe benefits tax regime will have significant ramifications on the car industry, the local car manufacturing industry and employment…
The reasons for compensating emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries have vanished; so should the compensation.
Dave Clarke
With the Rudd government announcing a faster conversion to a market-driven carbon price, it should be time to review the assistance provided to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries such as raw…
Australian manufacturing workers are feeling the heat of economic change.
“Under this [Labor] government we’ve seen one manufacturing job lost every 19 minutes.” - Opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella, Q&A, 1 July. The Conversation contacted Mirabella’s office…
Australia enjoys a privileged relationship with most economies in the Asian region because of the integrated global value chain.
Image sourced from www.shutterstock.com
Australia is facing increasingly stiff competition from developed economies all vying for a share of the growth pie in the East and South Asian region, where Australia has integrated its value chain activities…
Should Australia go beyond exporting uranium “yellowcake” and consider fabricating nuclear fuel rods?
Flickr/NNSA News
It is not the first time in Australia’s economic history that a prevalent sector reaches its peak and gives way to a rapidly developing new one. However, while the mining and education sectors have apparently…
The trend of “mass customisation” will mean Australian factories will be very different places in the future.
AAP
Manufacturers across the world rely on economies from the scale of production to drive down unit cost. This “mass production” approach, focused on efficiency and uniformity of product, is feasible when…
Incoming Director of the Australian Institute of Business and Economics at UQ, and Professor of Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, Macquarie University