The Japan-United States
Autos and Auto Parts Consultations

Steadfast implementation of the Measures and increased foreign access to the Japanese autos and auto parts market

Q.

Have these measures helped to increase the exports of American and other foreign automobiles to Japan?

A.

(1) The share of imported automobiles in the Japanese automobile market has continued to rise considerably. The imported automobiles has surpassed the previous year's share for three consecutive years since 1993. In 1995, 362,000 automobiles (an increase of 31% over the previous year) were imported to Japan and they shared 10.2% in Japan's automobile market.

(2) The export of automobiles manufactured in the U.S. to Japan is also swelling. In Japan, U.S. automobile sales rose by 34% in 1995 over the number of the previous year, totaling 123,000 units. As a result, U.S.-made automobiles have gained a 3.5% share of the Japanese market. The Big Three have set a preliminary target for sales in Japan of at least 100,000 cars per company by the year 2000. The Japanese consumer is likely to react favorably to such efforts of the Big Three as to introduce right-hand-drive models as announced, to establish and expand sales networks, and to improve their replacement parts supply systems.