White House Wants More US Cars Sold In Japan, The Problem Is Japanese Buyers Aren't Interested

Most GM/Ford vehicles don't fit on Japanese roads for starter.

For decades (and still now), Boeing has dominated the Japanese's market because Tokyo wanted to Japanese airlines to buy American instead of Airbus, that's their way of offset the trade imbalance.

Do people even know?

In most cases, especially in the more urban areas, most American cars are just too large for the roads. Too wide, too long. Perhaps in the more rural areas there may be enough space.

Look at all those tiny cars they sell in Japan. Kei I think they are called. They need cars that small to get around in so many areas.

In actuality - the Japanese brands have altered their cars in order to make them more popular in the USA - often bringing out specific USA models (FOr Years - there was a Japanese Camry that was completely different from the one sold here - and they make most American Camry's here as well) - and certainly coming out with More power for their cars - when in both Europe and Asia - smaller standard engines with less performance is the Norm.

At this point - with only GM as an American company behind producing cars - certainly they COULD produce cars that would sell in Japan - and certainly have some models not sold here - that would be small enough - but that does not alter the problem - those small cars are not made here either. FOrd is giving up on cars here - certainly th F150 will never sell in enough quantity in Japan.

It certainly would not change anything if GM bought a Japanese Car maker again - still would not be making cars here.

About the only place where GM might make an inroad is in Luxury Vehicles - where they could use Cadillac - but American Cars have a really really bad reputation for quality in Japan as well.

ilovecar2015 is right. International trade is complex. If Trump pushes too hard on Japan, they will switch to buying from Airbus. Global trade is more than just cars. I saw a great presentation a few weeks ago from the chief economist of one of the major banks. Since the early 60s the system of trade agreements and lowering of tariffs has produced an environment of relatively fair trade. Country A will buy more of one product and country B more of another. Some of the current trade imbalance is a result that the EU went through an economic slowdown 2- 3 years ago whereas the US did not.
Economic growth has soared as a result of free trade. Trump's new tariffs will put us back to 1962.

I would not want to drive an American car on those roads. I also would pick up one of the many Japanese cars that are there that are not for sale here. American cars are too bulky. The camero, charger/challenger, mustang are all to bulky.

bw5011, the Toyota Crown RWD cars I saw all over in Japan are what I would bring over if I could.

Maybe more US made Civics or Corollas could be exported.

That is PRECISELY what to do. Build Japanese cars for Japan here.