Production in Germany, Exports and Production Abroad
A comparison of developments from 1994 to 2004 shows that with a rise of 62 per cent, the growth rate of passenger car exports was more than double that of production in Germany (+27 per cent). Exports of commercial vehicles went up by a hefty 95 per cent. However, production abroad rose by considerably more: 115 per cent. The export quota of German passenger car production now exceeds 70 per cent, while the proportion of total production occurring abroad has reached nearly 50 per cent.
So the German automotive industry has obviously developed beyond a classical "export industry". Automotive development and production in Germany have now become much more of a core element in a worldwide production and supply network. Germany has so far profited from this as an industrial location, not only directly by exporting vehicles, but also by supplying foreign production plants with products from Germany and by sending parts to foreign vehicle manufacturers. For example, the value of exported products from the German automotive industry within the last decade has gone up by 130 per cent. Imports rose by 114 per cent over the same period. This resulted in the foreign trade surplus rising by 145 per cent to its current level of approx. 80 billion euros.
Turnover figures also reveal the increased significance of foreign business. Turnover abroad grew by 165 per cent in 1994 - more than double the increase in domestic turnover of 68 per cent. In 2004 foreign turnover rose by 8 per cent. This continued rise can be traced back to the supply industry in particular, which pushed up its foreign turnover by almost 11 per cent. The trailer and body industry was also able to chalk up considerable successes on foreign markets, especially in the enlarged EU; its turnover abroad rose by over 45 per cent.
