Why did Dyson pick S’pore for electric car?
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When James Dyson, the billionaire British inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner, unveiled a plan to build an electric car plant in Singapore, it raised a few eyebrows.
Not only does the land-starved city state have some of the highest average salaries in the world, but it has been nearly 40 years since Ford closed its factory in Singapore, effectively ending car production there.
“It is a bit of a surprise because of the cost base and no other car manufacturing plant being here,” said Shantanu Majumdar, a regional director at consultancy JD Power.
Dyson said on Tuesday the decision was based on supply chains, access to markets and the availability of expertise, which offset the cost factor.
But what other factors could have influenced the decision?
Why not head straight to the biggest electric vehicle market in the world, China, like rival Tesla?
Here’s a look at some of the less obvious pros and cons:
1. High Costs vs Generous Incentives
Compared with other global cities, Singapore has some of the highest average salaries in the world after tax, according to studies by Deutsche Bank. Land available for industrial use is scarce and expensive, and it ranks highly in general cost-of-living indexes.
But aside from its skilled engineers and scientists, for a high-tech firm like Dyson, Singapore offers generous incentive schemes. Some schemes include tax breaks for five years, which can be extended, and grants that can cover up to 30% of the cost of projects to improve business efficiency.
Singapore declined to comment on whether Dyson benefited from any such schemes.
“It is a bit of a surprise because of the cost base and no other car manufacturing plant being here,”
To shore up productivity in its manufacturing sector, which makes up less than quarter of its output, Singapore has focused efforts on attracting high-end manufacturers and those who adopt automated production processes.
2. Small Market vs China Gateway
Dyson may have decided to make electric cars in Singapore, but few are likely to be driven here or anywhere in Southeast Asia for that matter.
The number of privately owned electric vehicles in Singapore is in single digits, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has criticised Singapore for not being supportive of electric vehicles.
Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive places to own a car because the government strictly controls the vehicle population by charging owners a variable rate for the right to own and use a vehicle for a limited number of years.
In Southeast Asia, only 142 electric vehicles are forecast to be sold this year, data from consultant LMC Automotive shows. By contrast, sales in China are forecast to almost reach 700,000 vehicles this year, more than double the combined sales from the United States and Europe.
But with one of the world’s busiest ports on its doorstep, Dyson can roll a car off the production line in Singapore and within the hour it can be on its way to China or other sizeable electric vehicle markets like South Korea or Japan.
Dyson products – which include bladeless fans, air purifiers and hair dryers – are becoming a premium brand in China and other Asian markets. Asia accounted for over 70% of its growth last year, the firm said.
3. Familiarity vs New Frontier
Dyson’s history with Singapore probably also played a role. It already employs 1,100 people in Singapore, making 21 million digital electric motors a year. It also has manufacturing hubs in Malaysia – connected to Singapore via two road bridges – and the Philippines.
“This is obviously a surprise but since Singapore is at the heart of Southeast Asia, Dyson would be best placed to source many components from neighbouring countries and, locally, assemble and manufacture the high-tech car here,” said a corporate banker who deals with multinational firms in the region.
Questions & Answers
Q.What primary reasons did Dyson state for choosing Singapore as the location for its electric car plant?
What primary reasons did Dyson state for choosing Singapore as the location for its electric car plant?
Dyson stated that its decision to build the electric car plant in Singapore was based on supply chains, access to markets, and the availability of expertise in the region. These factors were deemed to offset the higher cost of operating there.
Q.What financial benefits might Singapore offer to attract a high-tech manufacturer like Dyson?
What financial benefits might Singapore offer to attract a high-tech manufacturer like Dyson?
Singapore offers generous incentive schemes, which can include tax breaks for five years, potentially extendable, and grants. These grants could cover up to 30% of project costs aimed at improving business efficiency for high-end manufacturers.
Q.Why is Singapore considered an unlikely location for manufacturing electric cars for the local market?
Why is Singapore considered an unlikely location for manufacturing electric cars for the local market?
Singapore is one of the world's most expensive places to own a car, with the government strictly controlling the vehicle population. Only a single-digit number of privately owned electric vehicles exist there, and sales forecasts for Southeast Asia are very low.
Q.Does Dyson have existing operations in Singapore, and if so, what are they?
Does Dyson have existing operations in Singapore, and if so, what are they?
Yes, Dyson already employs 1,100 people in Singapore, where it manufactures 21 million digital electric motors annually. It also has manufacturing hubs in nearby Malaysia and the Philippines.
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