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According to a recent news report from NHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS, Trump is upset that Japan sells far fewer American cars than the US sells Japanese-made cars.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump openly discussed ongoing trade negotiations with multiple countries, emphasizing the need for fair deals.
One, was a key focus with the Japanese Prime Minister about opening up their car market.
Trump stated, 'We sold no cars, like zero cars in Japan. And they sold millions of cars into our country.'
Japan Must Open Up Its Market: 'We Sold Zero Cars in Japan, They Sold Millions Here'
According to the JHK World-Japan news report, the reason for this has often been cited as safety standard differences that require American cars to be upgraded or remodeled before being allowed on Japanese roads.
Some American cars need to have their parts remodeled. Although it looks simple, remodeling work takes time and labor ―Ueno Shuta, a Japanese car dealer in Tokyo
But that's not the only reason American cars aren't popular. One expert says US automakers have failed to meet the needs of the Japanese market.
What Are the Needs of the Japanese Market?
According to the newscast, American cars do not fulfill the needs of Japanese consumers:
US cars are bulky and are not fit for Japanese roads. Poor fuel efficiency is also a major factor. It makes the vehicles unappealing to drivers who want to be able to drive in their own neighborhoods.
An exception to this is the American brand, Jeep.
US Jeep automakers have taken the extra steps needed to make their vehicles more accessible to Japan's needs by tailoring the vehicles with retrofitting BEFORE shipping them to Japan.
As such, Japanese car shoppers prefer the Jeep brand because it is already retrofitted, smaller than other American vehicles, and requires only registration before hitting the road.
Large cars aren't ideal when there are other vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians sharing the road. We sell American cars to Japanese customers who want a safer version of the US models ―Haruta Koji, a US Car Dealer
What Do The Numbers Tell Us?
When it comes to the number of cars imported to Japan, the US numbers are dismal compared to the rest of the automaking world.
Out of 230,000 foreign cars imported last year in Japan:
- Mercedes Benz: 53,195
- BMW: 35,240
- Volkswagen: 22,779
- Audi: 21,415
- MINI: 17,165
- Volvo: 12,331
- Jeep: 9,633
"As for the other US companies like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Ford, they each sold a couple hundred units each overall. They're a small percentage of the Japanese market," states the newscast.
Other Failings of US-Made Cars
Other reasons why American-made cars do not sell well in Japan are mostly related to logistics.
In other words, navigating the streets can be challenging even with smaller Japanese cars. Parking is another problem―the spaces in Japan are narrower and shorter.
And finally, the old steering wheel is on the wrong side of the vehicle problem. Ticket booths and other venue transactions are placed with the driver on the right side of his or her vehicle to reach through the driver's side door window.
If you need to get into a parking lot for example, the ticket machine will be on the right because that's where Japanese cars have the steering wheel. But many American brands have it on the left and that puts people off. German brands though, were quick to make right side vehicles; if American brands don't take steps like that then experts say it will be hard to attract Japanese drivers."
For more details from the newscast, here is the video provided below for your convenience:
Why aren't American cars popular in Japan?ーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
For additional articles related to US vs Japan vehicles, here are a few for your consideration:
- 10 Reasons To Buy Cars Built In Japan…And Not Just Toyotas, But This One Specific Make and Model You Might Regret If You Do Not Buy It In 2025
- Are Toyota's Made in Japan Better than Toyota's Made in America? Let's Find Out!
- All Cars Built In Japan Are Safe To Buy, And They're Reliable Long Term…Well, That Used To Be The Case, But Not Anymore, Admits Mechanic From Japan.
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Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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