Carmakers Expand Production Reach to Limit Currency Risk
Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), Renault SA (RNO) and Nissan Motor Co. are among carmakers widening their global production footprint to limit exposure to currency risk.
Toyota plans to expand production in Europe to about 75 percent of sales from 63 percent to 64 percent within two years, Chief Regional Officer Didier Leroy said. Its luxury Lexus brand is entirely produced in Japan.
“We want to have a business model that completely frees us from the exchange notion,” Leroy said in an interview at the Geneva International Motor Show.
The yen has depreciated 6 percent against the euro this year and was trading at 121.56 per euro as of 3:11 p.m. in London after dropping to 127.71 in February, the weakest since 2010. It’s down 7 percent against the dollar. Still, Toyota’s impact from the exchange rate this fiscal year will be less than 10 million euros ($13 million), Leroy said.
Nissan Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn, who holds the same title at partner Renault, said the yen isn’t in positive territory for Japanese carmakers.
“It’s less of a handicap today,” he said in an interview with Guy Johnson on Bloomberg Television. “It doesn’t mean it’s an asset. They’re more competitive compared to one year ago. It certainly doesn’t make them more competitive compared to four years ago.” The yen reached almost 170 per euro in July 2008.
Localized Production
The market is “very far” from a devaluation of the yen currently, Ghosn told reporters in Geneva today, adding that many carmakers have been relying on one currency for too long.
The current logic is “localize your production” and that trend will continue, he said.
“Currency fluctuations are having a huge impact on where the automakers are choosing to put their production,” Anil Valsan, global lead analyst for automotive at Ernst & Young, said in an interview. “More natural hedges are what automakers are trying to do rather than financial hedging. That’s where the emphasis will be going forward.”
Renault’s Philippe Klein, executive vice president for corporate planning, product planning and programs, said the French carmaker is evaluating how foreign-exchange fluctuations affect sourcing.
“In an ideal world, we would like to be balanced: if I sell in rubles I would like to build in rubles,” Klein said. “We’re trying to reach that objective.”
Peugeot Parts
PSA Peugeot Citroen Chief Executive Officer Philippe Varin said his company is also trying to build where it sells.
“When you are a generalist carmaker, you have to be close to the markets that you serve, so that you are not exposed to currencies,” the executive said at the car show. “The future will be more local exposure.”
Nissan still sees “headwinds” from the yen and aims to produce and sell in the same market to avoid exchange risk rather than hedge, Andrew Palmer, Nissan executive vice president, told reporters today in Geneva. A rate of 100 yen to the dollar is considered “neutral,” he said.
Toyota’s European research and development chief Masahisa Nagata said yesterday that the yen is still too strong and an appropriate rate is 130 per euro.
“We’re currently keeping in our forecasts exchange rates at 105-110 even if it’s currently at 121-123,” Leroy said. “We don’t want to slacken by saying ‘the exchange rate is perfect, we’re in the best of all worlds.’ We really want to have a cautious business model.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Mathieu Rosemain in Paris at mrosemain@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net
Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Regional Officer Didier Leroy
Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg
Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Regional Officer Didier Leroy said, “We want to have a business model that completely frees us from the exchange notion.”
Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Regional Officer Didier Leroy said, “We want to have a business model that completely frees us from the exchange notion.” Photographer: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Allan Rushforth, chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Co.'s European operations, discusses market share, sales expectations and the impact of currency fluctuations on business performance. He speaks with Bloomberg's Baden Campbell at the Geneva International Motor Show. (Source: Bloomberg)
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, discusses French competitiveness, the yen and the outlook for sales in Europe. He speaks at the Geneva International Motor Show with Guy Johnson on Bloomberg Television's "On the Move." (Source: Bloomberg)
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- PSA Peugeot Citroen Chief Executive Officer Philippe Varin talks about the new 2008 model, the outlook for the European market and manufacturing plants. He speaks at the Geneva International Motor Show with Guy Johnson on Bloomberg Television's "The Pulse." (Source: Bloomberg)
March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat SpA, talks about the outlook for the European car market, Italian politics and the impact of a weaker yen on business. He speaks with Bloomberg Television's Guy Johnson on the sidelines of the Geneva International Motor Show. (Source: Bloomberg)
Toyota Expanding European Production to Limit Currency Exposure
Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg
Employees work on a Toyota Motor Corp. Yaris automobile as it moves along the production line at the company's factory in Onnaing, France.
Employees work on a Toyota Motor Corp. Yaris automobile as it moves along the production line at the company's factory in Onnaing, France. Photographer: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg
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