Five car plants in Western Europe are facing closure over the next three to four years, according to an automotive analyst.
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Speaking at JD Power’s ‘Global Automotive Outlook’ conference in Paris, analyst Arthur Maher said that 1m units of annual car producing capacity in western Europe will be removed over the period due to the rapid installation of production capacity in eastern Europe.
“A million units of capacity removed over the next three to four years equates to shutting five western European car plants including the already announced closure of PSA’s Ryton plant,” Maher told just-auto.
“Eastern European build is expanding rapidly – car build is forecast to increase by 2.7m units over the period 2005-2013.
“Hyundai, PSA and Toyota will account for at least half of this growth.”
Maher told the conference of auto industry executives that overall European car production capacity utilisation would rise as production capacity in western Europe is removed over the period and European demand increases.
Maher forecast that the western European plants set to close in the next three to four years are: Azambuja (GM, Portugal); Born (Mitsubishi, The Netherlands); Ellesmere Port (GM, UK); Ryton (PSA, UK – already announced); and Forest (Volkswagen, Belgium).
Dave Leggett
