[도쿄=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 도요타자동차의 고위 이사가 21일 인원감축과 기술혁신으로 엔고를 극복하고 있다고 밝혔다.
니미 아쓰시 도요타 부사장은 한국의 현대자동차와 치열한 경쟁을 하고 있으며, 현대는 원화 약세의 이점을 갖고 있다고 말했다.
2009년 100엔에 거래되던 환율이 최근 79엔으로, 해외에 수출하는 일본 자동차 메이커의 수익성이 악화되고 있다.
니미 부사장은 "비용절감, 혁신과 종업원 훈련을 통해서 도요타가 성장할 수 있는 새로운 시장에 진출할 수 있다"고 주장했다.
(영어기사 원문)
Toyota stays lean to ride out strong yen and grow
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. has been hammered by the strong yen, putting extra pressure on the automaker to stay lean and come up with new innovations to ride out the challenge, a senior executive said Thursday.
Toyota Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi acknowledged competition was growing extremely tough with South Korean makers, including Hyundai Motor Co., which have the advantage of a weaker currency.
A strong yen the value of overseas earnings for Japanese automakers, making it harder to offer products at cheaper prices abroad. The dollar has traded at 79-yen levels recently, down from about 100 yen in 2009.
Niimi said cost cuts, innovations and worker training will allow Toyota to export lean production to new markets, where Toyota can still grow.
Caption
Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi gives a speech at the Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo in Tokyo Thursday, June 21, 2012. Niimi said Toyota has been hammered by the strong yen, putting extra pressure on the automaker to stay lean and come up with new innovations, but it is determined to ride out the challenge. (AP Photo)
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com
