Are Japanese Automakers Now Secretly Wishing They Were German?

Despite the strong yen, Japanese auto exports rose 7.3 percent in January to 365,288 vehicles, that’s up for the 13th straight month, reports The Nikkei [sub].  Exports weren’t strong enough to out-balance the Japanese car market that contracted 21.5 percent in January.

As a result, domestic production in Japan dropped 6.3 percent to 706,107 units in January. This is the fourth straight month of decline, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association reported today.

A lot of executives at Japanese carmakers wish they would be doitsu, or German.



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Steve - 2/28/2011 12:38:33 PM

+1 Boost

In recent years, as the premium German names (BMW & MB) have adopted exterior styling language that looks more Asian, an argument could be made for things being the other way around.

[Vote -1 if you're a BMW or MB famboi, and this post really pisses you off :-) ]

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/28/2011 4:34:02 PM

-4 Boost

Other than copying the exhaust outlet please enlighten me on "exterior styling language" that BMW or MB have copied?

_43LE - 2/28/2011 4:50:30 PM

+4 Boost

MB E class - last generation Sonata
MB GLK - last generation Forrester.
BMW X3 - Kia Rondo
...

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/28/2011 4:54:46 PM

-1 Boost

MB E class - last generation Sonata

The E class has more in common with a 56 Mercury than a sonata

MB GLK - last generation Forrester.

Well they both have windows.

BMW X3 - Kia Rondo

Time to update that eye glass perscripton. NO LINES LOOK ALIKE.

_43LE - 2/28/2011 5:32:06 PM

+4 Boost

"NO LINES LOOK ALIKE."

...yeah, if you're on acid.

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/28/2011 6:32:04 PM

-4 Boost

Oh wait is was wrong the Kia Rondo has a Hoffmiester kink.

_43LE - 3/1/2011 9:20:54 AM

0 Boost

I love fishing ;)

speed123 - 2/28/2011 1:04:32 PM

+5 Boost

Why would they want to be unreliable.

Willis - 2/28/2011 3:56:56 PM

-7 Boost

"hich is the sad truth in european cars..still plagued with electrical grimlins and ALWAYS at the bottom of reliability ranking"


Yeah, Europeans don't know how to work with electronics. Dear Lord, we should take away their nuclear power plants because who knows, an electric malfunction might create a Chernobyl II. *Sarcasm*

Japanese cars in terms of reliability are overrated, especially Toyota.

Willis - 2/28/2011 3:52:36 PM

-6 Boost

Idiotic thread and idiotic posters (SemperLexus, Speed123).

800over - 2/28/2011 4:26:34 PM

+9 Boost

You forgot: (Willis)

Willis - 3/1/2011 9:15:34 AM

-6 Boost

No. I forgot 800over.

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/28/2011 4:35:29 PM

+1 Boost

After seeing the headline, I yearn for the Geneva Auto Show to start and real cars news occurs.

LexSucks - 2/28/2011 5:21:15 PM

0 Boost

"Are Japanese Automakers Now Secretly Wishing They Were German?"

- No. There are things that Japanese cars do better than German cars, and there are things that German cars do better than Japanese car. Pick whichever one you like and be happy.

MeanVulcan - 3/1/2011 4:19:56 PM

0 Boost

I second that. One more for scientific based data, and one down for brain-dead baseless generalizations.

BimmersNme - 2/28/2011 9:34:48 PM

0 Boost

Agree with you SportyTurbo