Asia is the new and undisputed king of car-making profitability – thanks to the money-making prowess of Japan, Korea, China and India.
Most of the firms who enjoy profits of billions of dollars annually now hail from this region. Subaru boasted a profit figure of $2bn last year. Comparing like with like, TATA’s profit was $2.7bn, and Kia was just ahead of the Indian firm on $2.8bn.
Nissan ($4.3bn) was pipped by up-and-coming SAIC of China ($4.4bn), which already has Honda ($5.6bn) in its sights. And Hyundai has become the second most profitable car maker in Asia on $7.0bn – or $9.8bn if the profits of its adopted child Kia are included.
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