American Chamber of Commerce In Taipei

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Topics Archive

Topics Archive 2008

Vol.38- No.12

Sponsor: Ford

Editorial: An Industry Worthy of Assistance

After strenuous public and Congressional debate, the Bush administration has come forward with a financing program designed to keep the U.S. auto industry afloat. The proposal was highly controversial, in large measure because of the enormous sums of money that will be committed. Significantly, however, even most opponents of the plan appeared to appreciate the immense importance of the auto industry to the U.S. economy as a source of employment and as the foundation for many related business sectors.

In Taiwan, the auto industry is also hurting badly. For even longer than in the United States, in fact, the car market here has been in a tailspin. Sales are down by an almost unbelievable margin – 57% – from the peak established in 2005. Manufacturers are scaling down production and employment, and some dealerships have shut altogether.

Editorial: 值得拯救的汽車業

值得拯救的汽車業經過冗長的民意與國會討論，美國布希政府終於敲定汽車業紓困方案。該方案曾引發許多爭議，主要是因為牽涉金額太過龐大。不過，多數持反對意見者還是無法否認，汽車業既提供大量工作機會、又是許多相關產業的基礎，因此對美國經濟至關重要。台灣的汽車業同樣受創嚴重。早在美國車市衰退前，台灣車市就已經一蹶不振－從2005年的高峰後，銷售額狂跌57%；車廠縮減產能、解雇員工，部分經銷商更早已關門大吉。

Cover Story: 急遽萎縮的汽車市場

比起2005年，台灣的車輛銷售數量已經慘跌超過一半。信用危機、油價飆漲、經濟衰退先後衝擊車市，購車族群多數移往中國生活或工作更讓車市雪上加霜。汽車業者希望，配合新政府刺激景氣方案，政府能適時伸出援手、重振國內車市。長遠來看，業者同樣需要能有效開拓外銷的政策方針。

撰文／沙蕩

根據台灣區車輛工業同業公會的資料，台灣汽車市場在2005年創下年銷515,000台的新紀錄；當時，所有人一致看好國內汽車業前景。只不過，車市隨後連三年慘跌：2006年銷售量只有366,000台，下滑近30%；2007年再降到327,000台，跌幅10.6%；2008年全年預估僅有220,000台，比前一年又跌了33%。與2005年相較，現在的年銷售量只剩一半不到；一般認為，2009年的銷售量還會繼續破底。

當然，不是只有台灣的車市黯淡，除了沙烏地阿拉伯及印尼外，幾乎全球車市都面臨同樣困境。美國三大龍頭車廠，至少是通用及克萊斯勒，都面臨破產危機。最近的國際頭條之一便是布希政府決定投入170億美元，協助美國汽車業渡過難關。

不過，其他國家並沒有出現類似台灣的銷量急跌，僅僅三年內就減少57%。儘管國內主要車廠現在還未出現緊迫的財務危機，車市萎縮還是不免影響雇用意願、企業營收、及擴張計畫，部分小型車廠甚至可能歇業。問題更大的是，某些汽車零組件廠即將面臨倒閉的危機，長此以往勢必危及汽車業供給鏈的穩定度。

Cover Story: The Incredible Shrinking Auto Market

Car sales in Taiwan have plunged to less than half the level of 2005. The market was hit first by the credit crisis, then rising oil prices, and now the deepening recession – all of that compounded by the large number of prospective car-buyers now living and working in China. The industry is asking government for help in reviving domestic sales as part of the Ma administration's economic stimulus program. For long-term viability, the industry will also need to find effective ways to develop exports.