Automotive News [sub] reports that the Tokyo Auto Show could be canceled this year. Debate is raging within the Japan Automobile Manufacturing Association (JAMA) which hosts the show, as foreign automakers stay away and even domestics brands call for a cancelation. But JAMA won’t reveal the confirmed no-shows, and insists that the things must go on in the business of show. “A couple companies are not in favor of organizing the show under these conditions, but that is not JAMA’s opinion,” says Toshihiro Iwatake, JAMA’s executive director and secretary general. “We think the motor show is a symbol of industrial prosperity,” he said. “We have to show that our industry is healthy.” And though Japan’s automakers are as healthy as can be expected, Japan’s cratering domestic market (set to fall under 5m units in 2009) makes America’s down year look like China’s down year. If the Tokyo show is canceled, it won’t be back until 2011. By which time, Japan could be well on its way to becoming a “kuruma banare,” or demotorized society.
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Still, again, for ever: Why are we not importing Kei cars buy the bushel? Canada gets them after 15 years, we get them never.
Thanks regulation! Jerks.
Seth L:
We get them after 25 years. Right now you could import a sweet Suzuki MightyBoy.
“GODZIRRA!!!!!!!”
(sorry. couldn’t help myself.)
Oh no, there goes Tokyo—
Go, go, Godzilla . . .,
Blue Oyster Cult
I worked in a naval shipyard that bought a whole fleet of Daihatsu pickups for transportation within the shipyard. These rigs had top gear locked out of the transmissions to keep the hotshoes from going too fast up and down the piers and such; top speed about 25. They had all the modern conveniences like heaters and automatic chokes etc. They seemed to stand up reasonably well for the type of service they encountered, but no way would I drive one on a public road.