President Donald Trump may be promising to ease restrictions for U.S. automakers in Japan, but General Motors doesn’t foresee a market breakthrough ever occurring, Automotive News reports.
“For us right now, we have a very stable presence [in Japan],” said Alan Batey, Chevrolet’s global brand president. “It’s not one with aspirations so big that it’s burning through a lot of cash.”
U.S. auto executives feel there is no amount of political pressure that could swing the tide to increase sales in Japan. GM currently sells Cadillac and Chevrolet performance cars almost exclusively. The automaker sold 1,228 vehicles in 2016.
Ford completely backed out of the Japanese market after 40 years of money-losing operations. “We concluded that our resources are better spent elsewhere,” David Schoch, president of Ford’s Asia-Pacific operations, said.
Instead, U.S. automakers are focusing their efforts elsewhere, particularly in China. Auto execs are hoping the latest administration will be able to ease the 25 percent tariff placed on cars brought into China and hopes restrictions are lifted on producing vehicles in the country.
Both Ford and GM have been successful in China, as local consumers continue to view the American brands with high regard, particularly Cadillac and Buick.
Comments
The Japanese are so nationalists that they frown on intermixed marriages, so their population is dropping because more adult Japanese are not marrying. soon the U.S. can “invade” japan just by walking in!
God I hope not. We will be Model Ts again soon. GM is about as unpopular in Japan as it is in Germany, maybe that means something.
Meanwhile, German and Japanese cars sell in the USA without major incentives. This, despite Americans being the even more patriotic types. Imports would be extinct here if GM, Ford, Chrysler were even remotely competitive.
They are very competitive vehicles ford and GM make. It’s the long lingering and automatic negative perception that still persist in the US and even more so to this day because of the bailout on GM. As an example a Chevy Cruze up against a Honda Civic, may not be as fun to drive but matches the Civic in quality
And refinement, beats the Civic in reliability but people still flock to the Civic because of perception.
Hey, Sean, besides have an inferiority complex with regards to President Trump, you might want to educate yourself​ and get out in the world once in a while:
– Prime Minister Abe has visited President Trump twice in the U.S. since being elected President. He never came for Obuma. Everyone is coming to Trump, not the other way around.
— President Trump was talking tough about ALL trade, not just autos. Guess what, it worked. Japanese are investing huge in the U.S. and Japanese car makers have committed billions in jobs and factories since Trump was elected.
– Japan is a declining market with the fastest aging population and limited car needs in society with their great train network, small land area, and aging population. And they are fiercely protective of their car Industry from American giants. That won’t change with less business opportunities in the future.
Sean, time to move in after your election loss…No amount of whining will change the result and only push people to side with President Trump more.
I really love the backend of this coupe shown in the picture. The XTS refresh needs a backend like this, clean and classy.
More whining and crying about President Trump from Sean. Poor Sean seems to be in a bubble as to why he lost the election and Republicans won majorities in all branches of government.
Here is a hint to one reason many people I know rejected Hillary and the Democrats and humiliated then in the process – anti-Trump propaganda in the media/ media bias is one of the top reasons. Instead of learning from it and maybe giving themselves a chance in 8 years, they just keep banging their head against a brick wall like a bunch of spoiled children. Right, Sean?