Renault Opens Import Company In Allegedly Closed Market Japan

Renault has realized a new trend: Imports are hot in Japan. Nissan established a new company, Renault Japon Co., Ltd., to import and sell Renault vehicles in Japan, effective April 2, 2012. Previously, Renaults were sold in Japan by a division of Nissan. While American automakers sit sulking in a corner and complain about mythical import restrictions to Japan, European makers are looking back at a great year exporting their cars to the island nation. While the Japanese market as a whole dropped 14 percent, imports to Japan rose 22.5 percent. With 3,068 units sold in 2011, Renaults are not necessarily brisk sellers in Nippon. Renault's alliance partner Nissan on the other hand is the second largest import brand with 53,337 units imported in 2011. King of the hill is and remains Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Group imported 72,028 units to Japan in 2011. You will not hear them complain about a closed market. Because of the weak euro and strong yen, the car exported from Europe to Japan guarantee big profits, especially because the Japanese customer sees nothing of that currency windfall. Cars going from Japan to the soft-euro-zone can incur losses. As the list, compiled using data of the Japan Automobiles Importers Association, shows,  American companies do miserably in Japan. Tiny Porsche sells more cars in Japan than all of General Motors. Registrations Of New Car Imports Japan 2011 2011 Share% 2010 Change Volkswagen Group 72,028 26.1% 63,759 3.7% VW 50,635 18.4% 46,707 1.7% Audi 21,166 7.7% 16,854 1.9% Bentley 126 0.0% 136 0.0% Lamborghini 99 0.0% 60 0.0% Bugatti 2 0.0% 2 0.0% Renault Nissan  Alliance 53,337 19.3% 29,504 10.6% Nissan 50,269 18.2% 26,967 10.4% Renault 3,068 1.1% 2,537 0.2% BMW Group 48,770 17.7% 44,044 2.1% BMW 34,195 12.4% 32,426 0.8% BMW MINI 14,350 5.2% 11,338 1.3% BMW Alpina 141 0.1% 202 0.0% Rolls Royce 80 0.0% 74 0.0% Mini 4 0.0% 4 0.0% Daimler Benz Group 34,442 12.5% 32,048 1.1% Mercedes-Benz 33,212 12.0% 30,936 1.0% smart 1,214 0.4% 1,101 0.1% Maybach 9 0.0% 6 0.0% Unimog 7 0.0% 5 0.0% Toyota 15,377 5.6% 10,234 2.3% Fiat Chrysler Group 13,427 4.9% 11,751 0.7% Jeep 3,154 1.1% 1,877 0.6% Dodge 1,106 0.4% 868 0.1% Chrysler 611 0.2% 777 -0.1% Fiat 5,960 2.2% 5,562 0.2% Alfa Romeo 1,863 0.7% 1,816 0.0% Ferrari 386 0.1% 493 0.0% Maserati 249 0.1% 287 0.0% Lancia 96 0.0% 68 0.0% Autobianchi 2 0.0% 3 0.0% Volvo 11,997 4.4% 7,894 1.8% PSA Group 9,231 3.3% 8,423 0.4% Peugeot 6,137 2.2% 6,021 0.1% Citroen 3,094 1.1% 2,402 0.3% Porsche 3,658 1.3% 3,335 0.1% Ford 3,469 1.3% 3,047 0.2% General Motors Group 3,102 1.1% 2,475 0.3% Cadillac 1,392 0.5% 1,057 0.1% Chevrolet 1,268 0.5% 905 0.2% Hummer 293 0.1% 376 0.0% GMC 117 0.0% 106 0.0% Pontiac 12 0.0% 10 0.0% Buick 11 0.0% 7 0.0% GMDAT 5 0.0% 5 0.0% DAEWOO 2 0.0% 2 0.0% Opel 1 0.0% 4 0.0% Saturn 1 0.0% 3 0.0% Suzuki 3,091 1.1% 4,325 -0.5% JLR Group 2,011 0.7% 1,975 0.0% Jaguar 1,020 0.4% 1,138 -0.1% Land Rover 942 0.3% 770 0.1% Rover 49 0.0% 67 0.0% Honda 945 0.3% 1,292 -0.2% Lotus 271 0.1% 312 0.0% Aston Martin 140 0.1% 121 0.0% Mitsubishi 105 0.0% 182 0.0% Hyundai Kia Group 84 0.0% 211 -0.1% Hyundai 81 0.0% 208 -0.1% Kia 3 0.0% 3 0.0% Saab 60 0.0% 63 0.0% Morgan 16 0.0% 15 0.0% MG 11 0.0% 7 0.0% Detomaso 4 0.0% 2 0.0% Subaru 0.0% 1 0.0% Others 68 0.0% 63 0.0% Total 275,644 100.00 225,083 22.5% There have been many theories that tried to explain why the Americans are losing the import wars in Japan year after year. Favorite theory in Detroit is that the Japanese market is closed. When asked where and how, there are no answers. Some people cite the fact that the Japanese drive on the left – which doesn't stop the Germans from selling a lot of cars in Japan. Culturally attuned people say the Japanese like saiku things, small precision machines. This does not help the Mini much, which sold 4 in Japan, whereas 80 monstrous Rolls were sold. Those allegedly narrow streets in Japan seem to be wide enough for 33,000 Mercedes. Inscrutable orient.   from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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