MOTOR INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1931, Page 8

MOTOR INDUSTRY

OFFICIAL RETURNS

VEHICLES OF THE WORLD

.. "Evening Post," 4th August. Mr.- Julian Foster, American Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, has received advice from the United States Department of Commerce, Washington, of ihe world production of motor-vehicles for the year 1930. Totals of all countries amounted to 4,109,231 vehicles, a decrease of 2,168,220 ■units, or 34.6 per cent., from the record output of 1929, viz., 6,277,451 vehicles. The drop in production is attributed to a heavy decline in purchasing power in the principal markets. Production was down everywhere except in England. World automobile production and exports of complete vehicles in 1929 and 1930 are compared as follows: —

Export percentages, 1030 included: United States, 7 per cent.; Canada, 29 per cent.; Great Britain, 13 per cent.; Austria, 46 per cent.; Belgium, 46 percent. Of the world production 9 per cent, was exported in 1930. TRADE DIFFICULTIES. Reference was made' by the Trade Commissioner, commenting ou the report, to the unprecedented volume of unsold liew automobiles at the beginning of the year. "The motor industry in virtually every important producing country," he explained, "was forced to regulate production so as to permit liquidation of those stocks. At the same time keen competition at .home and abroad focused attention upon the ueed of maximum efficiency in production, management, and distribution." A heavy reduction in consumer demand emphasised the necessity of developing new mechanical improvements and attractions for the buying public, while a considerable dealer mortality throughout the world required that constant efforts be ihade to prevent further disruption of the world distribution organisation. WORLD PROBLEMS. Throughout the year the world's automobile manufacturers were vexed with a confusing multiplicity of serious'problems: to strengthen sales efforts without forcing excessive "supplies of new cars upon markets already overstocked and unusually sensitive because of the general economic disturbances; to maintain production at as high a level as possible without straining the already weakened distribution channels; and to meet keen competition at hqjne.and abroad at a time when loss of sales made urgent retrenchment and readjustment of vital importance. These difficulties -were, of course, relatively greater in the American industry, which had just concluded a year of record production. But in other countries conditions were similar, particularly in the domestic markets. BRITISH DOMINION MARKETS. Canada's three leading markets in 1930 •were, in the order given: New Zealand, British India, and Australia; in 1929. they were Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. Leading customers for British cars-in 1930 were: The Irish Free State, India, Australia, and New Zealand; in 1929, Australia, Irish Free State, India, and South. Africa. Considerable fluctuations in the order of the leading1 markets of the United States ,and Caaada were due largely to the fact that many of the markets that predominated in. 1929 were most severely affected by the general decline in rawcommodity prices. lv. 1929 Australia was the leading customer for American exports, but fell to seventh place in 1930, and Canada rose from third to first place in 1030. '

Producing Production. Exports. country. 1020 1930 1920 1930 United States . 5,35S,420 3,355,9S6 030,207 237,630 Canada .. 263,295 154,192 101,721 -14,533 Total .. 5,621,715 3,510,17S 037,928 282,183 Austria .. Belgium . Czechoslovakia Denmark . England , France . Germany Hungary Italy .. Japan .. Poland .. Russia .. Spain .. Sweden . Switzerland .. 8,110 3,200 2,S5S 1,474 7,000 4,100 2,723 933 14.710 16,S40 1,380 1,194 150 230 — — •233,925 •235,070 42,321 29,819 24S.O0O 221,950 49,025 31,158 80,500 70,044 7,784 5,605 832 3J1 — — 54,100 36,532 ' 23.6S9 20,035 215 .205 — — • 450 500 — — 1,700 4,425 — — 450 450 65 CO 1,758 2,400 — 150 3,000 1,000 173 160 .Total 655,736 599,053 130,027 91;548 Grand total 6,277,451 4,109,231 707,955 373,731 "These figures include Anierlcan-typa vehicles manufactured in England, but not vehicles only assembled there.