Spain is the second largest manufacturer of cars in the european continent, and one of the 10 largest in the world. We started with words thick. The policies of the franco government laid the foundations of our industrial development, putting up obstacles to the import of cars from Europe, forcing manufacturers to implant in our soil to be competitive.
Spain is the fifth european market in volume
With the advent of the European Economic Community and later European Union, Spain it gained prominence as a country producing for export. The vast majority of what is manufactured in Spain goes to the outside, and we are specialists in cars of high volume and industrial vehicles (both light and heavy).
The problem of the passenger volume and the VI light is that it does not provide as much return, because its added value is not so high. When Audi decided to produce in Martorell, the SEAT Exeo (Audi A4 B7) and then the Audi Q3, our industry won cache, by going to make cars Premium, although they were volume. That position will be lost when the end of the production Q3 in the next two years.
When you reach the second generation of the Q3 and the A1, if there are no more awards, the more luxurious it is going to be made -in series – in Spain are the Ford Mondeo (including the Vignale), Galaxy and S-MAX. Without wanting to make any disgusting Ford, models are generalists. Spanish industry has resisted the wave of closures in Europe during the crisis, have only had to take the blind factory of Santana in Linares (Jaén) and another of IVECO Irisbus in Barcelona.
The Audi A1 is Premium, but bottom segment to the Q3
In 2007, just before the outbreak of the crisis, Spain produced 2.9 million vehicles. last year, according to ANFAC, 2.733.201 units, and that is 133.000 units above forecasts. For 2017 it is expected to reach the third million annual, milestone achieved in 2000, 2003 and 2004. Spain has won several awards in the past few years.
it Is good that the manufacturers are committed to Spain, no doubt. The competitiveness measures and the squeeze of the belt have been worthwhile. Now, ANFAC should seek to ensure that Spain exit the model country of low cost (or cost competitive), and produce cars of higher-margin commercial.
We have the competition of the countries of the east, closest geographically to the main markets (Germany, Uk, France and Italy), well-industrialized, well connected, and very competitive salaries. Spain may improve their competitiveness, thereby solving problems such as the rail transport. Let us remember that already allow the “megacamiones” on our roads.
Several countries this produce Premium models, why is Spain not?
Almost everything that is manufactured, exports. Of the 2.7 million vehicles produced, 2.2 million have gone out by boat, truck, or, to a lesser extent, by rail. All the more reason to improve in that regard. Spain needs to attract models of higher-margin, to strengthen our position as a manufacturer. The bulk of the national production of passenger cars are compact and subcompact.
you can’t say that Spain has lost the future Audi Q3 for poor quality or lack of competitiveness. That would be a nonsense. The Volkswagen Group has decided to do so. Manufacturers tend to speak well of Spain, of their quality and competitiveness. But it takes something more, you have to work on raising the value chain.
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