MAN warns of Japanese and US exports
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AMERICA and Japan are on the march for big export orders — so Europe, beware.
Otto Voisard of MAN, speaking in Munich last week, told his audience the Japanese were aim. ing at "total export," and Europe was hardly a match for her.
He added the other new competitor to the export ring is now the USA.
Worried about prices, Mr Voisard stressed the problems of the German vehicle industry caused by the increase in labour costs and changes in the exchange rates.
The wage bill in Germany together with Sweden is now the world's highest, being four per cent above the USA, 90 per cent above France and 115 per cent higher than Britain.
"A working hour in Britain costs less than half as much as in the Federal Republic," said Mr Voisard.
What concerned MAN was the depreciation of the US$ against the DM.
"It is against this background," said Mr Voisard, "that the USA is entering the export market for the first time as a serious competitor."
With vehicles becoming more competitive' and with the narrowing of the trS domestic market, American manufacturers are being forced to seek new markets.
On increased vehicle imports from Eastern bloc countries, Mr Voisard said that he was worried about the possibility of "dumping" due to the overriding need to obtain hard currency.