Japanese Cars

HERE is a Japanese view of the U.S.-Japan trade imbalance from an editorial in Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo:". . . In the American car market, Ford's Taurus has taken over the position of the best-selling car from Honda's Accord."The American cars, whose producer took a page out of the book on Japanese-style business management, became competitive with Japanese cars in terms of both quality and price and the market share of Japanese cars has been steadily declining."On top of that, the yen has become stronger since the beginning of the year.

Maryland politicians are dismayed by the latest closing of the Sparrows Point steel mill and the loss of its remaining jobs, but on a broader national scale the die was cast in the 1970s, when extreme hubris in the U.S. steel and fabricating industries failed to recognize the competition from Asian countries that practice mercantilism while we live under the illusion of free trade. Several owners have proven that the plant is not a viable manufacturing facility. The mill is an anachronism and part of the Rust Belt that developed from the East Coast through the Midwest in the 1970s.

TOYAMA, Japan -- Just outside the port of Toyama-Fushiki is a day parking lot whose owners have grown tired of shooing away would-be buyers of automobiles. So they posted a sign in Russian that reads, "This is a Parking Lot. These Cars are Not for Sale."Errant buyers can be a regular nuisance when Russian ships call at Japanese ports. In Toyama-Fushiki, when the Russian ship visits once a week, dozens of Russian passengers and sailors fan out across town, their pockets stuffed with U.S. $100 bills.

Sales of sport utility vehicles ran out of gas in September, giving General Motors and Ford dismal results for the month while the Chrysler Group and major Japanese brands gained ground. With gas prices topping $3 a gallon in most parts of the country, sales of Chevrolet's full-size Suburban and Tahoe fell 56 percent last month. The Ford Explorer and Expedition were down 58 percent and 61 percent respectively as buyers migrated to more efficient "crossover" SUVs and passenger cars. For the industry, sales fell 8 percent last month to 1.3 million vehicles.

BERLIN -- Back when the VW Beetle ruled the roads, Germany dominated imports into the United States and Japanese cars were little more than a curiosity.Today, however, Volkswagen and other major German automakers are insignificant exporters to the United States. In recent years, in fact, they have had so much trouble unloading their wares that they sell many models at a loss -- and even have to ship some flops back across the Atlantic.Although their problems differ, Porsche, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all at a turning point.

CHICAGO -- Though the 1993 Mazda 626 sedan and MX-6 coupe were conceived in Japan, they'll be American citizens because 75 percent of their parts and components will bear made-in-the-U.S. labels.The cars will be built at Mazda's Michigan plant and sold in the United States, but it's the percentage of domestically supplied parts that allows them to join the same clan as Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge.The Mazdas are the first Japanese car line to be considered domestic, although Japanese companies have built cars here for years.

A large American car and a small Japanese one represent the two best values to buyers of new cars, according to IntelliChoice.Buick's luxury sedan, the Park Avenue, and Honda's fuel-efficient Civic VX hatchback were named as the best American and import car values.IntelliChoice officially released the results in its 1992 editions of "The Complete Car Cost Guide" and "The Complete Small Truck Cost Guide."IntelliChoice picks the best overall values in 19 categories ranging from subcompact cars to luxury cars.

THE THREAT of a Japanese-dominated automobile market is not just an American phenomenon. Allegations of unfair trade practices -- for example, when the Japanese sell minivans at below production cost to grab market share -- are not restricted to the United States. Neither is the specter of domestic auto workers being laid off because of Japanese imports.Last month, European nations debated the future of the car industry. The starting point was a report drafted by Carole Tongue, a member of the European Parliament whose district includes a British Ford automobile factory.

February new car sales were off 6.1 percent in Maryland, according to figures released yesterday by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.But dealers aren't complaining."

Washington. -- School is out. Children large and small are bringing report cards home, touting good grades as examples of their brilliance and bad ones as someone else's fault. It's either the teacher, the principal, the other children or the whole rotten school system.They have learned well. They have had their eyes and ears tuned to the voices of America and absorbed the country's utter disdain for responsibility. ''It's not my fault'' is the theme song of countless millions of people and organizations.

TOYAMA, Japan -- Just outside the port of Toyama-Fushiki is a day parking lot whose owners have grown tired of shooing away would-be buyers of automobiles. So they posted a sign in Russian that reads, "This is a Parking Lot. These Cars are Not for Sale."Errant buyers can be a regular nuisance when Russian ships call at Japanese ports. In Toyama-Fushiki, when the Russian ship visits once a week, dozens of Russian passengers and sailors fan out across town, their pockets stuffed with U.S. $100 bills.

DETROIT -- There doesn't seem to be a price war breaking out on the car lots.When car sales slumped in February for Detroit automakers, one reason given was aggressive pricing by Japanese car companies.Some industry analysts even suggested Japan's automakers launched a price war, using low-ball leases to carve more market share from the Big Three.If there is a price war, it's a quiet one."We had better prices on Accords six months ago," said Charlie Pernik, president of a Honda dealership near Detroit.

February new car sales were off 6.1 percent in Maryland, according to figures released yesterday by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.But dealers aren't complaining."

CHICAGO -- It was two years ago that Mercedes-Benz giggled at the Japanese. Who'd want to buy a $35,000 Lexus when they could buy a $50,000 Mercedes?Ha, ha, and tsk, tsk. A Lexus rather than a Mercedes.Oops.Suffice it to say the Japanese walloped the Germans. Mercedes stuck its nose in the air and nearly drowned.For 1994, Mercedes has adopted a new strategy, though some will say that for 1994 Mercedes woke up and smelled the sushi. It brought out an all-new and larger C-Class sedan to replace the 10-year-old 190 and raised the price by only $50, to $29,900, on the C220.

HERE is a Japanese view of the U.S.-Japan trade imbalance from an editorial in Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo:". . . In the American car market, Ford's Taurus has taken over the position of the best-selling car from Honda's Accord."The American cars, whose producer took a page out of the book on Japanese-style business management, became competitive with Japanese cars in terms of both quality and price and the market share of Japanese cars has been steadily declining."On top of that, the yen has become stronger since the beginning of the year.

NAGOYA, Japan -- When Lee A. Iacocca, the chairman of Chrysler Corp., demands that America take a stand against Japanese car imports surely he must not be talking about car No. 11AMRXML2D19W-C06. It rolled off the line here the other day.The car was produced by teams of Japanese workers all wearing neat uniforms with "Mitsubishi Motors" emblazoned on the back. But the sporty, bright red model is a Dodge Stealth, made by Mitsubishi, and sold in America starting at about $17,000.And the only thing that makes it seem American is the word "Dodge" etched in the front bumper.

IN THE FIRST MONTHS of 1981, the American automobile industry, as Motor Trend magazine put it, was in the "throes of a grand pirouette." Still reeling from the 1974 oil embargo and subsequent "energy crisis," Detroit was rapidly phasing out its gas-guzzlers and replacing them with more fuel-efficient automobiles.January marked the 10th anniversary of the debut of the car that became synonymous with America's firm commitment to economy: the Chrysler K-car. Although the first Ks rolled off the assembly lines in late 1980, it was in January of 1981 that the car had its formal coming-out, making the January front covers of both Consumer Reports and Motor Trend.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- A 1991 Gallup Poll of American car owners provides some insight into why sales figures released this week show that U.S. car makers continue to lose market share to other manufacturers, primarily the Japanese.While American cars score well compared with foreign cars when it comes to comfort, luxury, styling and safety, the U.S. public gives American cars much lower marks on attributes which may be particularly important during recessionary times -- economy of operation, ease of maintenance and resale value.

A large American car and a small Japanese one represent the two best values to buyers of new cars, according to IntelliChoice.Buick's luxury sedan, the Park Avenue, and Honda's fuel-efficient Civic VX hatchback were named as the best American and import car values.IntelliChoice officially released the results in its 1992 editions of "The Complete Car Cost Guide" and "The Complete Small Truck Cost Guide."IntelliChoice picks the best overall values in 19 categories ranging from subcompact cars to luxury cars.

Hilda Gage, a judge in Pontiac, Michigan, was moved, she says, ''by a sense of patriotism and concern for the economy,'' when she recently sentenced a chronic speeder, who is an automobile test driver, to drive only American cars.Well. Can he drive a 1992 Ford Crown Victoria? It is assembled in Canada with parts from America, Japan, Mexico, Britain, Spain and Germany. Can he drive a Chevrolet Geo Metro, which is made by Suzuki and Isuzu?Pity the poor Michigander who must enforce the rule banishing foreign cars to the back of the parking lot at one automobile plant.