Tokyo Auto Salon: Where Have All The HUMMERs Gone

by Bertel Schmitt

Published: January 12th, 2013

tokyo auto salon where have all the hummers gone

Tokyo Auto Salon HUMMER

The Tokyo Auto Salon is not just a preserve of doe-eyed kawaii girls, and a host of hachi-roku. It also proves that you can’t kill the HUMMER.

Beijing HUMMER

Two years ago, at the Beijing Auto Show, I wondered “ Isn’t HUMMER officially dead?” Back then, someone at a not very official-looking official HUMMER booth assured me not to worry and that “We’ll always have a supply. One way or the other.” Three years later, the endless supply of HUMMERS still lasts.

Haneda Hummer

The night before, at Haneda Airport, a white HUMMER zoomed by. The taxi driver said they are quite common around here, and “popular with celebrities.” So much for the lore that Japanese roads are too small for American cars.

At the Tokyo Auto Salon, more displays of Japan’s affection with HUMMER bruteness. One day, I’ll find the warehouse, stacked with factory-fresh HUMMERS.

Haneda Hummer

#BertelSchmitt #HUMMER #Japan #Tokyo #TokyoAutoSalon2013

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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2 of 7 comments

Dimwit on Jan 12, 2013

What exactly are these things being built on? Toyotas? Hinds? Isuzus?

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Seabrjim on Jan 13, 2013

Now that you mention it, I never see them anymore either. At least in South Jersey.

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Recent Comments

Lou_BC Blows me away that the cars pictured are just 2 door vehicles. How much space do you need to fully open them?
Daniel J Isn't this sort of a bait and switch? I mean, many of these auto plants went to the south due to the lack of unions. I'd also be curious as how, at least in my own state, unions would work since the state is a right to work state, meaning employees can still work without being apart of the union.
EBFlex No they shouldn’t. It would be signing their death warrant. The UAW is steadfast in moving as much production out of this country as possible
Groza George The South is one of the few places in the U.S. where we still build cars. Unionizing Southern factories will speed up the move to Mexico.
FreedMike I'd say that question is up to the southern auto workers. If I were in their shoes, I probably wouldn't if the wages/benefits were at at some kind of parity with unionized shops. But let's be clear here: the only thing keeping those wages/benefits at par IS the threat of unionization.