The Economist Conferences
Presents
Second International Japan Automotive Roundtable:
New ideas for profit growth in the domestic market

7:45am		Registration
8:30am		Introductory remarks by Conference Chair and sponsor introductions:
8:45am		Keynote address: Global overview and industry projections The world’s vehicle market shrank slightly in 2001 and looks likely to fall much further this year. What does that mean for Japan’s auto industry and its economy? Will the drop in the value of the yen allow production and exports to be maintained? And what is the medium term outlook, once the recovery begins? When will domestic sales start to grow again after so many sluggish years? And what of the competitive outlook? With so many foreign participants and so much unfinished restructuring, how will the competitive make-up of the market change in the next few years? This session and the following plenary will provide the necessary insight and answers.
9:30am		Plenary Session I: Perspectives on Japan’s future: what is driving change in the domestic industry? Japan’s auto industry has had a roller-coaster in the last ten years. From record sales at the start of the 1990s to years of stagnation. From an industry that was once wholly locally controlled to one where foreign influence is now substantial. However they have faired previously, all players in Japan are looking for the driving force of future revenues, costs and profits: where will they come from, what will be the areas of change and the areas without change? This opening panel discussion will answer these questions and explore the macro-level issues for automotive players, whether from OEMs, parts suppliers and after-market.
10:55am		Coffee & networking break
11:20am		Plenary Session II: Engaging in China: plans & strategy Many of Japan’s OEMs and parts makers are facing severe financial difficulties. Even the most successful have revenue and share-price challenges ahead. For some, the problem is debt, for others it is revenues and profitability. Finding solutions to these problems is often difficult. Implementing some of the solutions is often harder still. This session will look at some of the key financial facing financial executives of international OEMs.
12:00pm		Mid-morning keynote: Financial imperatives facing OEMs for profit delivery
12:45pm		Luncheon & address: Foundations for future success
2:15pm		Plenary Session III: Success case studies and analysis: what separates the technology, purchasing and cost-cutting leaders from the rest of the pack? While we are witnessing the so-called “polarisation” of the auto industry – companies such as Toyota and Honda enjoying record profits and increases in sales across markets, while other makers have their backs to the wall – there are many instances of success within the areas of purchasing, cost-cutting and technology. What are the characteristics that have determined these successes? This session will bring together analysts focusing on OEMs and parts suppliers to determine critical success factors, and new areas of exploitation from the “leaders of the pack” in particular disciplines.
3:30pm		Coffee & networking break
4:00pm		Plenary Session IV: Identifying new opportunities: technology, design, and the push for new market growth In a difficult global market where prices are being squeezed, volumes are falling and competition is intense, how do you improve your prospects? Long term prosperity requires new markets and alternative products. Where then are the new markets, how can they be tapped, and what sorts of new products will be required in both the developed markets and the new ones? How are the main Japanese players approaching their global strategies in terms on market segmentation: are they going after the US, European or developing markets? This session will look at the prospects for untapped geographic markets where there is likely to be sustainable growth. It will also look at the options for new technologies such as fuel cell, and telematics.
5:45pm		Closing Keynote: Strategic initiative to achieve global reach
6:30pm		Concluding Remarks
6:45pm		Conference Reception