Unhindered, Tesla Opens Second Showroom In Japan

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Unperturbed by propaganda that the Japanese import market is closed, and that setting up new cars dealerships in Japan is just about impossible, a myth propagated by an unholy UAW/D3 alliance to detract from the tariff and regulatory walls protecting the American market, Tesla opened its second Japanese showroom in Osaka.

According to The Nikkei [sub] the showroom is in a pricey downtown neighborhood, in “a huge commercial complex in the bustling “Umekita” area north of Osaka Station.”

Tesla can do in Japan, what in most of the American market would be illegal: Open its own showroom. As long as the pricey real estate is no hindrance, no law will stop you, in Japan.

Retail prices of the Model S in Japan “will be roughly identical to those in the United States, where it retails for $80,000-$100,000,” the Nikkei heard. “Japanese consumers who prefer to purchase the right-hand-drive version of the Model S will have to wait until 2014 or after as the car is currently only available in the United States as a left-hand drive.” At least, Testa is trying to adapt to Japanese roads, something some Detroit makers don’t.

Uninvitational cockpit: That wheel is on the wrong side for Japan (the U.K., ,Australia,New Zealand, Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Malta, Cyprus, Australia, Bahamas, Brunei, Barbados, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Singapore, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal, Macau, East Timor, Guyana,Suriname, more ..)

The Chevrolet Camaro for instance, notoriously is available in LHD only in Japan and elsewhere. So is the Corvette. A RHD Ford Mustang is rumored for the 2015 model year. These cars are very popular with a certain clientele in Japan, but the steering wheel on the wrong side makes them less desirable. Overseas aficionados of American muscle cars have heard promises of RHD models in the past, and have been often disappointed.

With modern production methods, RHD/ LHD is less complex than an optional moonroof. In Japanese and European factories, LHD and RHD cars happily roll down the same production line. Successful sales in a foreign market start with making cars the market wants.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Krayzie Krayzie on Jun 12, 2013

    You got to understand that in Japan, to show that you have class and status, you have to buy a LHD luxury/exotic import on purpose just to show it off (even tho the RHD counterpart exists). Go pickup a Genroq magazine and you'll see what I mean. That being said, I think the LHD Tesla will sell as long as the rich Japanese folks see it as something exclusive and bling. In Toronto there is a Tesla dealer inside Yorkdale Shopping Centre. I always see a lot of traffic with that store, and people taking test drives. But to me it still seems more like an amusement park than a real dealership (people taking pictures with their phones and kids sitting inside the cockpit having a blast with the touchscreen), and I almost never see a Tesla rolling around town (only once, and that could be a demo car lol).

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    • Challenger2012 Challenger2012 on Jun 13, 2013

      @Summicron “People for some reason keep assuming there is something mystical or different about Japan and other Asian cultures.” True statement. Before the Japanese started building cars overseas, it was accepted that the Japanese had some sort in inherent car making ability that no other nation/people had, until they set-up auto plants around the globe. Now, the round eyes can make quality cars, too and the Japanese are buying them in limited numbers. By the way, I worked for a Japanese company, Yokogawa. The Japanese and their companies possess no more magic than the rest of the world’s people.

  • Ccode81 Ccode81 on Jun 12, 2013

    Living near to their Aoyama Showroom in Tokyo, can't wait for their official release and price announcement. I'm a serious potential buyer. Very small issue for me to the wheel on wrong side, beside some parking ticket vendor and limited locations of non electronic toll road gates are on right side only. But on contrast, I do not have fond memories of brake pedals of Peugeot 406 RHD I owned. pedal were connected to the master cylinder on the other side of the car with lots of rods, quite indirect feeling it had. Well maybe only an issue to delicate guys.. Any good product with fair value to quality (or brand) will find some niche market in Japan, unless it is Korean related. To be major player, it requires to a lot of involvement to local economy. Just as everywhere else in the world.

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