Micro car iQ from Toyota Motor Corporations’s  is named the Japanese Car of the Year 2008-09. This award is organized by Japanese Coty Web site. The winners were selected by a committee of sixty-five jurors who are writers and consultants from automobile industry. 

Toyota IQ - Japanese Car of the Year

Toyota iQ won this prestigious award by a great margin over competitors such as Citroen’s C5, Audi’s A4 and Jaguar’s XF. This is a good news for Toyota, as it will help them to advertise the 1-liter iQ to boost sales amid slumping demand for new automobiles in Japan and the U.S.

The iQ micro car from Toyota, will be available in Japan from Nov. 20.  It can carry three adults and has additional space for a child or luggage.  It will be priced between 1.4 million yen ($14,300) and 1.6 million yen.  BMW’s Mini One is priced from 2.08 million yen, and Daimler AG’s twin-seat Smart For Two is sold from 1.76 million yen.

The Toyota iQ, is currently the world’s smallest four-seater car Measuring just under 3 meters. It is shorter than Japanese mini cars such as Daihatsu Motor Co.’s Move. and little longer than the 2.4-meter Smart ForTwo.

The iQ won this award mainly because of its space efficiency and design, particularly its ability to seat four people in a body less than three meter long, as well as its combination of safety and low CO2 emissions.

This car is currently not available in other countries. If you are interested, we can arrange shipment for you. It is a nice car for those who are looking for a compact, fuel efficient car for small family.

Technorati Tags: Japanese Car, Toyota, automobiles, Japan, micro car, Toyota iQ, mini car

Toyota’s Hilux pickup truck has been a workhorse around the world for a long time since it was launched in the early 70s.  This pickup truck has evolved over the years but still retains the essence of the original design.

The Toyota HiLux is a big, strong versatile Action Utility Vehicle (AUV).   It has got the performance you want and the toughness you’ve come to expect. It has virtually Indestructible mechanicals, huge space, tough image, a leading power figure with the 169bhp three-litre.

The Toyota Hilux is an incredibly durable and tough machine as has recently been demonstrated on BBC’s Top Gear program.  Jeremy Clarkson tried to bang, drown, and burn a Toyota Hilux to test it’s strength. In this video you can see how Toyota’s old workhorse survived the trial by fire, flood, tumbling tower block and deadly caravan.  There is no doubt it is one of the toughest hardiest pick-up trucks around.

Technorati Tags: Toyota, Hilux, pickup truck, AUV, Top Gear

When a person plans to buy a car, he looks for certain quality indicators like the brand image, comfort, efficiency, safety, luxury and the shape or looks of the car.

Every year, numerous models of cars are launched by different car manufactureres all over the world.  It may happen that the car models available in your country are either too expensive or lack in various features such as fuel efficiency, comfort and safety.  In such cases, it makes sense to import a used car from other country. 

In imported used cars, Japanese used cars are the most popular. By ‘Japanese used cars’ we mean that these cars were manufactured in Japan, used by Japanese owners and then made available to the secondhand car market. 

Why Japanese used cars are in a great demand all over the world?  What are the benefits of buying a Japanese used car and not a new car? Here are the advantages:

Low mileage:  Japan is the No 1. country in the world where public transportation Trains are highly advanced, convenient and most popular among the Japanese commuters.  Japanese do not drive long distance, so the Japanese used cars have very low mileage. 

Superb car condition: According to the Ministry of Transport in Japan every vehicle has to be in good condition to run on the road. The Ministry of transport constantly requires the cars to undergo the road worthiness test called shaken. That is the reason why a large number of Japanese used cars are in superb condition.  The conditions of the roads in Japan is another reason the Japanese vehicles are in good condition. Japanese economy is strong and so Japanese people prefer to buy new cars. That’s why a large number of Japanese used cars are available in the used car market. Japanese used cars and spare parts are not only cheap, but also worth every penny you pay.

Body Condition: The condition of the vehicle engine of the Japanese used cars is in excellent condition. The cars are checked at service stations regularly. Oil is changed on time. Japanese people are very clean they regularly clean and polish their cars. The exterior and interior condition is amazing when compared to American and European cars. Even a ten year old Japanese used car will still be in a good condition. Cars used by rental car companies are popular too because the condition of rental cars are very good. Though they have a higher mileage, these cars are given better care and guaranteed for a better performance. Japanese used cars are popular in the world for less engine troubles. In the event of an accident, cars are always replaced with new parts in the exterior as well as the interior, so their reliability is very high.
 
High Fuel Efficiency: Japanese automobile manufactures ensure that fuel efficiency is very high in Japanese cars.
 
Automatic transmission is better in Japanese used cars than in cars from other countries.

Technorati Tags: car, used cars, Japanese, Japan, condition, reliability, automobile

This year is very difficult for the Japanese supplier in the Philippines to export SUV or Vehicles including those small mini-truck due to most of the buyer in the Philippines specially the Subic base company and Visayas region importer stop buying from Japan, due to strict campaign of Bureau of Customs and Anti-Smuggling Car group in the Philippines. Most of the Japanese supplier in the Philippines who have some ready stock for Philippine market had a very big problem on thier existing inventory specially those being ordered already but eventually result to cancellation.  And the only reason they say to Japanese supplier is that they (importer ) do not already understand the system of the government in the Philippines. They just say to wait and see, cause if they are going to ship it in the Philippines, it will be seized for whatever reasons of the Philippine government. Its just like STOP LOOK AND LISTEN.  But for the Japanese supplier it means a big downfall of sales from the Philippine market.

Just the other month one of our buyer from the Philippines send us a news from the Philippines that even mini-truck which is already with car registration and plate number still being seized by some government agent like Traffic Management or the likes.  So they just can’t understand what rules to follow and what system to do. So again it affects  us too, as we are also one of suppliers of mini-truck to the Philippines and of course to our co-suppliers too.

Technorati Tags: importer, downfall, seized, mini-truck

According to Japanese major auto vehicle makers’ plans, all thier production in BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) will exceed amount of production in North America in 2011.
Recently, Japanese companies cannot plan thier sales management without overseas, especially developing countries like BRICs.
They are in the spotlight for thier explanation of new market, a lot of potencial customers there. As I wrote in my previous entry, they never regards Japan as good market to sell their vehicles due to the decreasing thier sales.
In Brazil market, Toyota is planning to sell thier “EFC (Entry Family Car)” in the future. It is low priced car about 800,000 to 900,000Yen ($7,500 to $8,400) that they have never sold in order customers who has never bought and owned their car can get. With regards Corolla would be sold for 3,000,000 to 3,500,000Yen in Brazil, that EFC will not be big but compact vehicle.
Not only Toyota but also Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi etc. plan to thier original manufacture plan in BRICs. It is very exciting for me that we will be able to meet Japanese-Brazilian, Japanese-Russian, Japanese-Indian and Japanese-Chinese car soon!!

Technorati Tags: BRICs, Brazil, Russia, India, China, EFC, Entry Family Car

I went to Tokyo Motor Show 2007, held at Makuhari Messe, with one of my customers coming from Maldives yesterday. It was opened only to the press or people in auto industory yesterday, they opens to the public from 27th October (Sat) to 11th November (Sun). This is one of very excited events for Japanese car maniacs and they are gathering there from all parts of Japan.
We found various kinds of next generation cars then and had a very exciting time!!

I’m going to write about then in Tokyo Motor Show 2007 with some photos next Monday. Check it out!!

Technorati Tags: Tokyo Motor Show 2007, Makuhari Messe, Maldives

As you have already known and I have mentioned in my recent blog posts, renewal of some popular car models, like Landcruiser 200, Mark X Zio and GT-R, have launched and will be coming soon. Toyota also announced thier new product “Corolla Rumion,” Mitsubishi, eager to get thier trust back, launches new Lancer Evolution X. They are expecting that thier sales would be increasing with them, however, it is not clear so far.
Some people who are called “celeb” in Japan (please note: this does not mean real celebrity, everyone in Japan calls rich person “Celeb”) like high-grade car, especially, imported car like Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari etc. In Ginza and Roppongi, where rich people are gathering at night, we can see more imported cars than Japanese luxury cars like Toyota Celsior, President, Nissan Cima and so on. It is not unusual sceanary around those town today. All they can afford to buy expensive car but do not buy Japanese car because it is one of thier status to be appeal thier wealth. On the other hand, young people who likes car are tend to buy American car, not Japanese sports car. That’s why there are some American car magazines published here. Almost car owners do think mechanical techniques of car are not the matter when they choose their car, for them, the most important thing when they purchase is its exterior.

Then, do you know who the target of vehicle maker’s sales scheme is?
The answer, I suppose, is car maniacs in manhood. They are not young but can afford to buy car whatever they want. In thier youth days, they liked to buy the “middle-grade” passenger car which has 5 or more seater for thier family, but thier children have been getting growing and independence from parents, finally, some of them have been about age of retirement.
They do not have to spend thier earnings on education for children and can spend thier money on thier hobby!! If there are a lot of car maniacs among them, they are going to boost sales of new car.
Following object is one of reason why I think so, Nissan has already received rushing purchase offers of new GT-R (Official Website), launches on December 2007, unless they had announced all information of it yet. I heard its price would be at least 7,000,000Yen for standard model (actually, it would be possible to be about 8,000,000Yen!!). Who can buy such expensive car!? —Of course, rich person can. Moreover, car maniacs who addicted to old Skyline in the old days have been getting older and now are willing to buy new GT-R, always can’t take thier eye’s off it!!

I’m feeling young car maniacs is getting decreasing and they are tend to buy non-expensive car in Japan these days. Vehicle makers attempt to make various car matching thier interesting, however, it is not sure that have reached everyone’s mind…
And it is getting easier to buy high-quality used car now through appearing used car distribution like Japanese used car auctions which we buy cars for our customer when we export them.
But we should not forget that, we cannot buy used car without new car because used car was new car when it launched first. Decreasing of sales of new car is serious problem not only for car makers but also for us, used car dealer, in the future.

Toyota is still the best company in Japan. They succeeded to make strongest and loved car, finally, people all over the world love thier car. But in Japan, no one take Toyota car considering as special one, needless to say, it is ordinary for everybody. How an ironic it is!!

I would like to expect  the future of Japanese auto industory and Japanese people to love Japanese car…

Technorati Tags: Landcruiser 200, Mark X Zio, GT-R, Toyota, Corolla, Rumion, Mitsubishi, Lancer Evolution X, high-grade car

Japanese well-known makers always have developed a lot of vehicles and keep everone’s eyes on thier products. People who love cars did not used to regard the car as just vehicle, but as thier hobby, however, we cannot see this car boom any more here except for car maniacs still being.

Then, what car is well-sold in Japan now? The answer is “Kei car” which is the vehicle under 660cc.
According to a report of Japan Automobile Dealers Association, during last 6 month, the best-selling car in Japan was Suzuki “Wagon R.” I think you are surprised with this result.
I have mentioned people living around the big cities who can live without thier own cars thanks to the complicated transportation system, trains, subways and buses like net over the area. Moreover, there is few space to be enough to a lot of person can park…
On the other side, country side areas, car is one of the necessities of life, it is going to be one car for one person because we can say it is the only transportation for them. Supermarkets, convenience stores and even if BARs (of course, it is exhibited to drive when they drink!!), they have so much space for parking a lot. They have to get the driving license when they are 18 years old, and purchase car to go work, school and shopping. They must buy car…but car is not trivial expense for everyone. That’s why Kei car is the most popular for people and best-selling car! Makers have been improving thier products’ interior, exterior, equipments and driving functions not only for people in local side but also for people living in the big cities. Therefore, we can find many types of Kei Car, Daihatsu Move, Tanto, Mira, Honda Life, Suzuki Alto, Nissan Moco etc. everywhere even if we are in the big cities and in the country cities.

(Continued to my next blog)

Technorati Tags: Kei car, Suzuki, Wagon R, Daihatsu Move, Tanto, Mira, Honda Life, Alto, Nissan Moco

Today, as everyone knows, Japanese vehicle makers have expanded thier business day by day. We can see almost Japanese dealers the whole world. It’s not rare that you can buy Toyota car in your country, not from Japan, and there are some cars that we cannot get in Japan because of apprearance of international model like Japanese car with LHD.
I have mentioned that young people don’t own thier car these days in my last post yesterday, and it is true, it is getting decreasing the numbers of registrated car in Japan.
The reason why is that, I think, it is not only parking issue but also expensive taxes on owing car and few attractive cars for them recently. According to an article on one of Japanese famous newspapers last month, young people tend to spend thier weekend alone in thier house and save thier earning for thier future because Japanese Social Security System, especially Japanese public pension plan, will be about collasping due to many disgraceful affairs by officers of government. And one more reason I guess is that so many young people are gathering urban city, and there are the various available transportations even if we do not have car, so, there is no necessity for being owner of car near big cities.
Once in a time, owing car was in a sense that was status for everyone in Japan. After the World War II, in high growth between 1955 to 1975, population who eagers to buy and purchase thier own car has been getting increasing, in the time of ”Made is Japan” was not considered good quality then yet. Everyone in the world laughs at things manufactured in Japan and no one could imagine there would be so many Japanese vehicles everywhere around the world in their future days. Now, Japanese cars are loved by people living in different countries, continents and even opposite to Japan.
Japanese car company like Toyota, Nissan, Honda etc. have been no more locar companies in Japan getting global and multinational ones in 21st century for their brilliant sales. Toyota is the best company in Japan nowadays, still some of makers had to change thier sales strategy because of a few bad schandals and changes of laws about ecological regulation.  But totally almost Japanese car makers have been bigger and bigger year by year thanks to thier close mechanical progressings.

 (Continued on my next blog…)

Technorati Tags: Social Security System, pension plan, disgraceful affairs, high growth, Toyota, Nissan, Honda

As I wrote in my last blog, new Nissan GT-R is coming this autumn (soon!). And I introduce 2 new cars, renewed Toyota Landcruiser 200 and Toyota Mark X, named “Mark X Zio.”

[Toyota Landcruiser 200]
First, Toyota Landcruiser 200 has undergone a model change, and has 4.7 litres V8 engine as well as its previous model Landcruiser 100, however, this model has also VVT-i, achieves its output 39kW upper than 100 model. And this new Landcruiser 200 has”Crawl Control” that can control engine and brakes to keep speed being low automatically when this car drives at, for example, off-road, steep rise in the road, sandy road and so on. This is the first car in the world which equips it originally. With this helpful system, all you have to pay attention when you drive on bad condition road is not to miss your steering operation!!
Those are why people call this newest Landcruiser “The King of 4WD.”

[Mark X Zio] 
Second, Toyota Mark X Zio was announced on 26th September.
Its concept is that it can not only be SEDAN but also be WAGON and MINIVAN, in other words, you can chenge its style whenever you want. This is like compact car but its capacity is 6 (maximum.) with luxual sophisticated interior/exterior styles and high-qualitied driving performance, Mark X Zio can attract to everybody who is thinking about buying new exciting car!!

(2 pictures are quoted from Yahoo! Japan Auto)

Technorati Tags: Nissan, GT-R, Toyota, Landcruiser, Mark X, Zio, Crawl Control