Why is Japan closed to North American Cars

[triple]

Total Japanese auto sale for 2008 was 4,775,917

Total foregn car sales in Japan for 2008 219,231* (( 4.5% of total ))


*25,329 = Japanese makes produced abroad for sale in Japan
*45,522 = Volkswagon sales in Japan 2008
*37,002 = Mecedes Benz Sales in Japan 2008
*35,945 = BMW Sales in Japan 2008
*2,000 aprox. = All GM brands Chevrolet Cadillac Hummer and Saab

The most GM Opel ever sold in One year was 38000 in 1996. GM pulled Opel out of Japan in 2006 after sales fell to only 1,800 units.

Say what you will but 4.5 % is not a big number by any standard in an almost 5 Million car market and given the expense of doing business in Japan and the import taxes I doubt any of the Geman brands are making a lot of money. There are no foreign brands in the list below. I stand by my original statement of why so many Manufactureres are skipping the Tokyo show


Top 30 models in Japan April 2009

1.Honda Insight 10,481

2.Honda Fit/Jazz 9,443

3.Toyota Vitz/Yaris 6,706

4.Toyota Corolla (Axio+Fielder+Rumion) 6,341

5.Toyota Wish 5,556

6.Toyota Passo (5Doors+Sette) 5,545

7.Honda Freed 4,591

8.Toyota Voxy 3,690

9.Toyota Crown 3,521

10.Toyota Estima 3,424

11.Toyota Vellfire 3,071

12.Suzuki Swift 3,032

13.Mazda Demio/2 2,909

14.Nissan Serena 2,898

15.Nissan Cube 2,705

16.Toyota Noah 2,603

17.Toyota Ractis 2,543

18.Nissan Note 2,527

18.Nissan Tiida (5 doors+Latio 2,148

20.Toyota Alphard 2,065

21.Toyota Prius 1,952

22.Toyota Sienta 1,761

23.Honda Odyssey 1,709

24.Toyota Porte 1,649

25.Nissan March 1,642

26.Honda StepWGN 1,638

27.Toyota bB 1,593

28.Toyota Mark-X 1,283

29.Honda Stream 1,277

30.Toyota Vangard 1,263


http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/bre...0511-b05k.html

http://www.autoincar.com/top-30-mode...ng-april-2009/

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...01/274106.html

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/ne...r_low_in_2008_




REMEMBER THIS NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE ON A TOYOTA TUNDRA OVER A FORD, GM OR DODGE...

 

[swampwater]

I am not positive but I think there is a problem with american manufacturers building cars thad dcrive from the right side of the vehicle as europe does. Swampy

 

[triple]

GM builds thousands of cars in Australia. THey also drive on the other side of the road. Their markets are closed to north american manufacturers.

 

[swampwater]

I am sure they do but Austrailia has no major manufacturers so the can sell plenty of them. I think they would not sell as well in japan to justify the cost and effort, and I would bet ford and gm partners in europe handle the market
Swampy

GM builds thousands of cars in Australia. THey also drive on the other side of the road. Their markets are closed to north american manufacturers.

 

[Supplicate]

REMEMBER THIS NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE ON A TOYOTA TUNDRA OVER A FORD, GM OR DODGE...

I guarantee you my next vehicle will be a honda or toyota. Would rather support something other then union ran companies.

 

[UintaVentureBoys]

Why would a Jap buy a 24 mpg vehicle for 30,000+ $$ and have it shipped overseas, when they can walk down the street and buy a standard 35mgp vehicle for 12,000+$$???

 

[94fordguy]

I saw an evidently retired Marine driving on my way home from work today... He had several bumper stickers claiming how proud he was to be an American and a Marine and all the freedoms we have today after having fought for them...


He was driving a Honda...


Just amazes me how conflicted people can be...


Flame on, but I stand by my comment, I'll never support a foreign car manufacturer as they don't support us... as proven in the posts above^^^

 

[JDKZRT]

I am not positive but I think there is a problem with american manufacturers building cars thad dcrive from the right side of the vehicle as europe does. Swampy

You're right, and I don't know what this problem is (other than stupidity).
There's a company in Melborne (the car manufacturing center of Australia). All they do is import
brand new Vette's and convert them to right hand drive.
Their selling price of a BASE Vette is OVER $110,000 USD (more than double the US price)..... and these guys do over 1000 cars/year. You'd think GM could do this conversion in Kentucy and get cars over there for for a piece of this action.

 

[Skinner]

I saw an evidently retired Marine driving on my way home from work today... He had several bumper stickers claiming how proud he was to be an American and a Marine and all the freedoms we have today after having fought for them...


He was driving a Honda...


Just amazes me how conflicted people can be...


Flame on, but I stand by my comment, I'll never support a foreign car manufacturer as they don't support us... as proven in the posts above^^^

I have to agree with you! I have wondered the same thing. Brag about being an American Then drive off in a Foreign car or truck! Go figure!

 

[ADRENALINE]

Simple, the average japanese family can't afford a union built (American) car. They use the car, drive it for 36 k and turn it back in, that is where all the low mile japanese engines come from! Who buys those? UM, we do! Double ding in the Japanese pockets.

 

[MARV1]

All comes down to keeping out the competition(US cars) by taxing them out the roof and keeping their own products' prices lower to make them more enticing to their own people so they could buy them and keep themselves in business in their home country.

 

[Rob1334]

Very good answer, but also look at the top car sales, and tell me the size of all those cars. Now look at the US fleet of vehicles. The only thing we have to offer them is 1-2 cars per company, at probably double the price of what they are buying now. If the US can figure out how to build cars for a lot cheaper and with better quality in that same sized market, they will have a lot more luck selling outside the US. Think Japan, China, India, Europe..........................etc.

.02, flame on... have answers for any rebutle.

 

[maluchm]

GM builds thousands of cars in Australia. THey also drive on the other side of the road. Their markets are closed to north american manufacturers.

Holden Motors

Check out the V8 Super Car racing in Australia. That's also where the GTO body came from.

 

[Rob1334]

Yup, Holden IS GM. Have been since before the 50's I know.

There are a few Holden 50's era cars called the EK that you might get lucky and see in the US, looks exactly like a Bel Air.

Not only the concept of the GTO but they also designed the anticipated Pontiac G8.

 

[maluchm]

Yup, Holden IS GM. Have been since before the 50's I know.

There are a few Holden 50's era cars called the EK that you might get lucky and see in the US, looks exactly like a Bel Air.

Not only the concept of the GTO but they also designed the anticipated Pontiac G8.

I didn't know they were part of GM for that long or anything about EK. Thanks! GM had to go to the G8 and discontinue the GTO because the die hard muscle car crowd wasn't happy with the styling. Didn't resemble the old goat at all but it was still a great car none the less.

 

[Rob1334]

Agreed. Loved the car myself, not sure it was going to be a major lineup car, as not everyone is interested in a 6 speed 400hp car, and the price wasn't low either haha. Have a few here in town that are HEAVILY modified, one is over 1,000 hp dynoed to the wheels running on a custom ethanol 406 race engine, still street legal too.

It was one of those I think even if it wasn't named GTO it would not have taken off either.

 

[Slednoggin23]

All comes down to keeping out the competition(US cars) by taxing them out the roof and keeping their own products' prices lower to make them more enticing to their own people so they could buy them and keep themselves in business in their home country.

You got this right. This is the main reason Japan is closed to North American Cars. The import Tax on these cars are as much as the car cost. So only very few can afford to buy one. Japanese people would buy US cars if the tax wasn't so high. The USA needs to impose a Import Tax on Jap cars like the Japs does the US cars. Yea sure their assembled here in the US but their still imported. And most of the profit goes to the country of origin.

I just love when people say they won't buy a certain make because of the unions. They rather send their money to a country that loves to see the USA fail. Talk about UN-American. I by no means support unions. They have their problems but so do most industries. The auto makers and the UAW need overhauled. But it wont stop me from buying American and keeping my money here not to some other country that hates the USA.

As far as people thinking GM, Ford Or Chrysler being more expensive than Toyota, Honda or Nissan need to go down to your local dealers and check prices. A fully loaded Impala or Fusion are less expensive than a fully loaded Camry or Accord. And are just as nice and reliable. Japanese cars used to be cheaper but not no more. Japanese have quality cars. but do little for the US economy. Yes they provide jobs up and down the car market but a small percentage of their profits stay here.

Do I own Japanese products? Yes I guess I do. The motor in my sleds and my race car are made in Japan. My TVs and computer are made in Japan. So I'm a hypocrite, its hard not to be when it comes to some products.

I have tried to stay out of threads like this cause people don't like what I say. I have spent two and a half years in Japan and have seen how hard it is to get a foreign car into that country. And how Japanese people don't think North Americans can build anything. I would like to see the sale of foreign cars in this country stop but it will never happen. It needs to be fair. There's a stiff tax on cars going onto Japan there needs to be a equally stiff tax on Japanese cars coming to America.

Most people that buy foreign cars have no idea what damage they are doing to the US economy. These same people you can never please, have no patients or understand people are human and will make mistakes. A Lot of problems cars(foreign or domestic) have today are not from human error. Most parts are computer or robot made. The Japanese build great stuff but all they do is work six days a week 10 hours a day and are a slave to their work. Not my idea of a great life.

Go ahead and say American cars arent even made in the USA. At least the profits come back here when it is all said and done. I much rather support a product made in Canada or Mexico than one made overseas in a country that hates and wants to see us fail.

Its time to rethink American.

Flame on flame on this AMERICAN is use to it

 

[triple]

You got this right. This is the main reason Japan is closed to North American Cars. The import Tax on these cars are as much as the car cost. So only very few can afford to buy one. Japanese people would buy US cars if the tax wasn't so high. The USA needs to impose a Import Tax on Jap cars like the Japs does the US cars. Yea sure their assembled here in the US but their still imported. And most of the profit goes to the country of origin.

I just love when people say they won't buy a certain make because of the unions. They rather send their money to a country that loves to see the USA fail. Talk about UN-American. I by no means support unions. They have their problems but so do most industries. The auto makers and the UAW need overhauled. But it wont stop me from buying American and keeping my money here not to some other country that hates the USA.

As far as people thinking GM, Ford Or Chrysler being more expensive than Toyota, Honda or Nissan need to go down to your local dealers and check prices. A fully loaded Impala or Fusion are less expensive than a fully loaded Camry or Accord. And are just as nice and reliable. Japanese cars used to be cheaper but not no more. Japanese have quality cars. but do little for the US economy. Yes they provide jobs up and down the car market but a small percentage of their profits stay here.

Do I own Japanese products? Yes I guess I do. The motor in my sleds and my race car are made in Japan. My TVs and computer are made in Japan. So I'm a hypocrite, its hard not to be when it comes to some products.

I have tried to stay out of threads like this cause people don't like what I say. I have spent two and a half years in Japan and have seen how hard it is to get a foreign car into that country. And how Japanese people don't think North Americans can build anything. I would like to see the sale of foreign cars in this country stop but it will never happen. It needs to be fair. There's a stiff tax on cars going onto Japan there needs to be a equally stiff tax on Japanese cars coming to America.

Most people that buy foreign cars have no idea what damage they are doing to the US economy. These same people you can never please, have no patients or understand people are human and will make mistakes. A Lot of problems cars(foreign or domestic) have today are not from human error. Most parts are computer or robot made. The Japanese build great stuff but all they do is work six days a week 10 hours a day and are a slave to their work. Not my idea of a great life.

Go ahead and say American cars arent even made in the USA. At least the profits come back here when it is all said and done. I much rather support a product made in Canada or Mexico than one made overseas in a country that hates and wants to see us fail.

Its time to rethink American.

Flame on flame on this AMERICAN is use to it

This is the mnost reasonable well spoken truth that I have ever read on any car subject on this forum. You say it exactly as it is. Make the playing field level and let the consumer decide. There have been so many past mistakes by American car manufacturers that it's hard for some to forget. When we were building Vegas and Pintos, japan were building Corollas and Civics. People that stopped looking at american made cars 20 years ago have never looked again.

 

[94fordguy]

You got this right. This is the main reason Japan is closed to North American Cars. The import Tax on these cars are as much as the car cost. So only very few can afford to buy one. Japanese people would buy US cars if the tax wasn't so high. The USA needs to impose a Import Tax on Jap cars like the Japs does the US cars. Yea sure their assembled here in the US but their still imported. And most of the profit goes to the country of origin.

I just love when people say they won't buy a certain make because of the unions. They rather send their money to a country that loves to see the USA fail. Talk about UN-American. I by no means support unions. They have their problems but so do most industries. The auto makers and the UAW need overhauled. But it wont stop me from buying American and keeping my money here not to some other country that hates the USA.

As far as people thinking GM, Ford Or Chrysler being more expensive than Toyota, Honda or Nissan need to go down to your local dealers and check prices. A fully loaded Impala or Fusion are less expensive than a fully loaded Camry or Accord. And are just as nice and reliable. Japanese cars used to be cheaper but not no more. Japanese have quality cars. but do little for the US economy. Yes they provide jobs up and down the car market but a small percentage of their profits stay here.

Do I own Japanese products? Yes I guess I do. The motor in my sleds and my race car are made in Japan. My TVs and computer are made in Japan. So I'm a hypocrite, its hard not to be when it comes to some products.

I have tried to stay out of threads like this cause people don't like what I say. I have spent two and a half years in Japan and have seen how hard it is to get a foreign car into that country. And how Japanese people don't think North Americans can build anything. I would like to see the sale of foreign cars in this country stop but it will never happen. It needs to be fair. There's a stiff tax on cars going onto Japan there needs to be a equally stiff tax on Japanese cars coming to America.

Most people that buy foreign cars have no idea what damage they are doing to the US economy. These same people you can never please, have no patients or understand people are human and will make mistakes. A Lot of problems cars(foreign or domestic) have today are not from human error. Most parts are computer or robot made. The Japanese build great stuff but all they do is work six days a week 10 hours a day and are a slave to their work. Not my idea of a great life.

Go ahead and say American cars arent even made in the USA. At least the profits come back here when it is all said and done. I much rather support a product made in Canada or Mexico than one made overseas in a country that hates and wants to see us fail.

Its time to rethink American.

Flame on flame on this AMERICAN is use to it

This is the mnost reasonable well spoken truth that I have ever read on any car subject on this forum. You say it exactly as it is. Make the playing field level and let the consumer decide. There have been so many past mistakes by American car manufacturers that it's hard for some to forget. When we were building Vegas and Pintos, japan were building Corollas and Civics. People that stopped looking at american made cars 20 years ago have never looked again.

Well said Gentleman This topic is no different than the way sleds are viewed, the stinky, rough riding, clumsy machines of yester-year are gone. they have come a long way just as the US cars have, and its time for people to open their eyes and wake up!

 

[Slednoggin23]

This is the mnost reasonable well spoken truth that I have ever read on any car subject on this forum. You say it exactly as it is. Make the playing field level and let the consumer decide. There have been so many past mistakes by American car manufacturers that it's hard for some to forget. When we were building Vegas and Pintos, japan were building Corollas and Civics. People that stopped looking at american made cars 20 years ago have never looked again.

Well Thank you very much. Not the response I am used to getting. Its the same thing I have been saying on similar threads for awhile now. Except more nerves are struck, but it is still early. I do what I can.