The Japanese automotive industry enjoyed spectacular success in the 1980s. This was largely due to the so-called 'Lean Production System' - the combination of an efficient production system, an effective supplier system, and a product development system. In the 1990s the industry fell on hard times because of the Japanese asset price bubble and extreme currency appreciation. In this book, eminent industry specialist Koichi Shimokawa draws on his thirty years of research and fieldwork with Japanese and American firms, to show how the Japanese automotive industry has managed to recover from this difficult period. He shows how firms like Toyota were able to transfer Japanese systems to overseas plants and how they have changed in order to compete in increasingly globalized markets. In addition, the book also addresses the two major challenges to the current industry model: the rise of China and the environmental and energy supply situation.

‘In this important book, Koichi Shimokawa presents new insights into the reasons for Japan's automotive industry success and describes crucial phases of its development. Looking ahead into the future of the industry, he makes a powerful argument for a turn towards ecological sustainability. A masterpiece by the doyen of Japan’s academic automotive research community!’

Ulrich Jürgens - Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) and the Free University of Berlin

'… comprehensive examination … provides in-depth analysis on topics including more recent developments such as the growing Chinese market and the shift towards environment-friendly cars.'

Source: BCJ Acumen