Nissan's Shiga: Tensions Over Islands Hurt Chinese Sales Of Japanese Cars

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

The hordes of Chinese and Japanese reporters roaming the halls of the Chengdu Global Automotive Forum in Chengdu were not really interested in exports. They were sniffing blood. There are tensions between China, Japan, and a few other countries over some rocks in the sea. The rocks are called Diaoyu by the Chinese, Senkaku by the Japanese, and choice words by many others. Nissan’s COO Toshiyuki Shiga sat on the podium, next to the always photogenic Atsushi Niimi. The Japanese were flanked by a BAIC president and a Dongfeng CEO. The reporters wanted to know: How bad is it?

Shiga says the tensions have “some impact.” As things stand, Nissan would rather not risk going outdoors.

“It is very difficult to conduct big sales promotional campaigns, especially promotional events outdoors. Overall, not only for Nissan but also all Japanese makers, we have been hit by a drop in sales, especially August sales. That means there is some impact,” Shiga told Reuters reporter Norihiko Shirouzu, who arrived at the conference in full riot gear, black jeans and t-shirt. Shiga told the same to Bloomberg’s Liza Lin, who also arrived in a black number, albeit a much more elegant one than Shirouzu’s duds. Toyota’s Niimi ducked the reporters.

Many cities saw anti-Japanese demonstrations, and there are Twitter-style calls for boycotts of Japanese goods. A Japanese embassy vehicle in Beijing was stopped by two cars, and the meatball pennant was ripped off. Two men were arrested and fined with five days in jail, writes The Nikkei [sub].

A white Infiniti and a black Toyota were parked outside of the Chengdu conference center without causing riots.

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.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
 5 comments
  • Billfrombuckhead Billfrombuckhead on Sep 06, 2012

    Japanese won't buy Korean cars and now Chinese are going to quit buying Japanese cars.

  • ABankThatMakesCars ABankThatMakesCars on Sep 06, 2012

    and to think, everyone thought VW was crazy when they said they would be #1 by 2018

    • Schmitt trigger Schmitt trigger on Sep 06, 2012

      That is a very distinct possibility....unless the Euro zone economic problems implode, making most Europeans boycott German products. And Germany itself going into a recession as their export based economy suffers a hit with the increased valuation of the Deutsche Mark..

  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Sep 06, 2012

    Nissan probably has it worst. The name Nissan literally means 'Japan made'. A name like that would be a hardsell even in the US, let alone in China.

  • Advo Advo on Sep 06, 2012

    I guess this is not a subtle Chinese way of telling the Japanese to "improve your generic styling or we won't buy from you".

Next