Toyota Chinese Sales Plummet 44% - Owner Expresses Remorse For Owning Japanese Brand

Toyota’s  China sales  dropped 44.1 percent year-on-year to about 45,600 units in October, The Nikkei [sub] says. Toyota confirmed the number. A territorial dispute over  uninhabited rocks in the East China Sea triggered a massive boycotts of Japanese goods, especially of high-profile cars. In September, Toyota’s China sales were down 40 percent in September.

Last month, dealerships of Japanese cars were torched, Japanese cars were overturned and drivers beaten. The demonstrations have since stopped. Now, it’s no longer the loss of the car that worries Chinese, but the loss of face. Which possibly is more powerful in the long-term.

“I am supposed to impress people with my car,” says a friend in China. “I don’t want to apologize for it.”  The friend expressed intentions to trade the current Corolla to “something from Volkswagen.”

 

Agent009 - 11/1/2012 2:29:13 PM

-2 Boost

Since the dispute between Japan and China. The largest automotive market in the world.

800over - 11/1/2012 2:48:20 PM

+4 Boost

Where are the sales results for Mazda?

Fijian - 11/1/2012 3:26:39 PM

-1 Boost

Ever since most recently when Toyota started singing the largest Automaker song again. The Chinese are smart, VERY SMART. Many AMERICANS though I cannot wager for.Especially the ones that swear to buy imports only.

HughJass - 11/1/2012 4:35:06 PM

+4 Boost

How come Hyundai/KIA's less than stellar numbers are never reported on here anymore? Korea's 15minutes are up?

As if China is going to matter once the communist party collapses. China has the same problem as Samsung, they're trying to kill off the very people who allow them to exist (the U.S. & Apple). Without America, China would fail. Without Apple, Samsung wouldn't have a clue.

quizz - 11/2/2012 1:13:23 AM

+1 Boost

America is in a decline... government babysitting will take its toll on our productivity, maybe not for another 15 years, but we are worse off today than 20 years ago.

HughJass - 11/2/2012 9:07:57 AM

+2 Boost

The 99% have been in decline for a long time, the 1% are stronger than ever.
Why do you think Jesus refuses to label China a currency manipulator? Too many CEOs and shareholders profit from a weaker RMB. When a new monkey is found, China will be forgotten.
Unfortunately for China, they've fallen into the Japan and S.Korea trap, you grow until another country becomes even cheaper for the 1% to profit off of.