Globalization or Regionalization of the American and Asian Car Industry?

JOSÉ RICARDO RAMALHO Professor of Sociology, Federal University of Rio de JaneiroMARCO AURÉLIO SANTANA Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Rio de JaneiroLUIS PAOLO BRESCIANI Director for Economic Development, City Governmant at Santo AndreRUY QUADROS Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Technology, UnicampLUIS ANTONIO CARDOSOLUDGER PRIES Chair on Sociology of Organisations and Participation Studies, Ruhr-Universität BochumMYEONG-KEE CHUNG Professor of Economics, Hannam UniversityANDY DANFORD Employment Studies Research Unit, University of the West of EnglandVALERIA PULIGNANO Lecturer in Industrial Relations, University of Warwick Business SchoolUDO REHFELDT Researcher, Institute de Recherches Economiques et SocialesYOLANDA MONTIEL CIESAS, MexicoSTEVE BABSON Labour Studies Center, Wayne State UniversityWAYNE LEWCHUK Labour Studies Programme, McMaster UniversityCHARLOTTE YATES Labour Studies Programme, McMaster UniversityMASAKI SARUTA Chukyo University, Nagoya

The automobile sector is one of the most archetypal global industries and is seen by many as one of the main drivers behind the homogenisation of world markets due to firms' internationalization strategies and the social practices that firms impose. This book argues that this is not entirely the case due to the heterogeneity of firms and the diversity of strategies pursued. It highlights the diversity and forms of internationalization and the preference for regionalization rather than globalization that has occurred over the past decade. This book looks specifically at the American and Asian car industry.

Foreword; M.Freyssenet & Y.Lung Introduction: The Diversity of Internationalization Strategies and Trajectories Of the Automobile Sector Firms; M.Freyssenet, K.Shimizu & G.Volpato Internationalization of American & Asian Automobile Firms; B.Jetin The Twin Internationalization Strategies of US Car-makers: GM and Ford; G.Bordenave & Y.Lung Internationalization of American Car Service Companies and Change in Distribution; B.Jullien Maverick at the Age of Mega-merger? Toyota's Global Strategy; K.Shimizu Nissan: From a Precocious Export Policy to a Strategic Alliance; H.Kumon Honda, an Independent Global Car Company, Out of the 'Four Million Units Club'; K.Shimokawa The Chance for Periphery Market Players; M.Chung Conclusion; M.Freyssenet & Y.Lung