The last time the Detroit Three turned up at the Tokyo Motor Show was in 2007. One recession later, Jeep returns to Tokyo to represent the Motor City.
Jeep will join Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Fiat on FCA Japan’s stand when the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show kicks off in late October, Automotive News reports. Jeep will also be sole representative for U.S.-born manufacturers, as Ford, General Motors and Tesla sit out of this year’s festivities.
The off-road brand is currently No. 7 in import sales in the Japanese Domestic Market, having rose 21 percent to 2,298 units between January and April of this year. Though still behind the likes of Mercedes, BMW and MINI, Jeep is outperforming fellow domestic competitors Ford (1,625 units through April 2015), Chevrolet (313) and Cadillac (297).
Jeep’s presence at the show is also a boon for the show’s organizers, seeking to standout against bigger shows across the sea in China; the 2013 edition overlapped the show in Guangzhou, as well as the Los Angeles Auto Show.
[Source: Jeep]
If FCA want to sell in Japan they’d better start looking at the niggling quality issue that seem to have followed Fiat and Chrysler for decades.
FCA do make some attractive products, but the Japanese market will have more discerning consumers.
I also wonder if Jeep is present at the Tokyo Motor Show is an indication that the TPP is going ahead?
y u no read? They’re already selling there, Your Blathership.
@RideHeight,
Hey, your correct!
I thought the US had trouble with importing vehicles into Japan?
But, I’ll stand by my comment regarding the quality of FCA products.
People who hate FCA are usually people I pass on the highway.
people who hate FCA are people who pass a lot of gas… verbally and out their exhaust pipe.
Hate? More like indifference. Hey, number 7 import brand in Japan, right?
Interesting slingshot effect for those people when the car drives off suddenly.
That’s a tremendous load on the Renegade’s roof rack anchor; I wonder if it’s really rated to do that?
Wait till the hammock starts a rockin’…
Maybe not. The anchor is only as good as the roof itself, and rollover standards probably make it strong enough for a guy and his girl. If the dog jumps in the hammock though…
I really wanted to dislike the Renegade (pictured) but like it.
I really wanted to own the Impreza/Crosstrek, but can’t bring myself to buy one of the damn things.
With TT&L the cheapest Renegade is a 20K car and the Trailhawk version can easily far surpass 30K. All versions except the Trailhawk get the cheap, snow-snagging plastic chin, and ground clearance in 4X2 versions (all I’d want) is no better than a Soul.
It’s cute as hell but not 30K+ cute. I am deflated after all the hype, but more impressed with the Soul.
No AWD for the Soul and IIRC no stick available with the bigger engine (at least in Canada).
Kudos to Jeep for offering a manual tranny in the AWD Renegade (although the stick is only available with the 1.4 L turbo).
If the last AWD vehicle available with a manual was some half-assed Lada brought over here, I’d likely buy it. #SaveTheStick
Yes, although I don’t need it I think AWD is critical for the Soul if it’s to keep any sales momentum. And a stick-shift option is always good though decreasingly in demand.
Where is user “Lie2Me” ??? He was all about this Renegade.