Toyota Sent To Siberia?
While Mazda is still talking with Russian politicos about producing cars in Siberia, Toyota is doing it. Toyota “is moving into the Russian Far East ahead of other Japanese automakers as part of a high-priority effort to tap emerging markets,” at least as far as The Nikkei [sub] is concerned.
The Russian Far East and Siberia used to be a hotbed for well maintained barely used Japanese cars, sold before the feared Japanese shaken car inspection and traded in for new. Some 80 percent of the cars in these frosty regions, just across the water from Japan, used to be Japanese RHD models. Last year, Russia enacted punitive tariffs on imported cars, especially on imported used cars. “Moscow wants to force foreign auto makers to open their own plants in Russia,” said Automobilwoche [sub]. And apparently, Moscow’s wishes are being fulfilled. In a somewhat roundabout, but very Japanese way.
According to another story in The Nikkei [sub], Japanese keiretsu giant Mitsui will start a joint venture with the Russian automaker Sollers. Toyota would supply “parts” (most likely CKD kits) and equipment, and train the personnel. Then, the cars would be loaded on the Trans Siberian Railroad and sold all over Russia. Which car is unknown, the Nikkei is going out on a limb and guesses it could be a sedan or an SUV.
Mitsui and Toyota go a long ways back. At some time in the dark ages, Toyota was part of the Mitsui conglomerate.
It could also be that the Nikkei jumped the gun and that it’s only talk, just like Mazda. When asked about the plans, Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett told TTAC that “no decision has been made.”
After a near death experience, the Russian car market is humming again . Bloomberg reports that Russian new car sales rose 72 percent in January to 127,654 units.
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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Isn't there a BIG unused building at Chernobyl ready to renovate and be put to use. Likely in better shape than large parts of Detroit and surely with a kinder, gentler more civilize populace but that's just an Old Coot Opinion.
"Some 80 percent of the cars in these frosty regions, just across the water from Japan, used to be Japanese RHD models." I guess that a significant number of RHD cars could create big traffic and security issues.