MyJCar.com- News and Reviews of Japanese Motors in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM)

Let’s face it. Oil’s running out, and with oil at topping 145 USD per barrel, gas isn’t getting any cheaper.

Here in Japan this month alone gas has raised ¥10 which is an equivalent to around 0.10USD per Liter (NOT GALLON) which more or less translates to more or less $6.40/gal. While stuff is closer here in Japan, there’s been an increase in bicycle sales (around the world) to beat the pump in response to gas prices.

I personally was considering buying a nice sedan, but now I’m actually considering options and maybe getting a Mini-Car or Micro-Van through an exporter that specializes in low gas mileage vehicles.

How are you guys beating the pump this summer (outside of not using your car).

[HDRJapan.com] [Japan Times][Financial Post]

Image PhotoChopped by Elmer, Source [MotoFoto on Flickr]

J@pan Inc and JapanEconomyNews.com occassionally put together some facts and figures to highlight certain facts. Most of this is compiled by Ken Worsley of JapanEconomyNews.com (although we can’t seem to find the same information on their blog this was in the May|June 2008 Edition of J@pan-Inc Print Magazine.

Automotive:

• Number of new cars, trucks and buses sold in Japan in February 2008: 322,613
• Change from a year eariler: +0.1%
• Maker showing the strongest growth: Subaru, +13.0%
• Number of new min-cars sold in February 2008: 180.004
• Toyota’s projected production for 2008: 9.95 million units
• Change from a year eariler: -1.5%
• Honda motorcycle sales in India in 2007: 4,091,000 units
• Honda motorcycle sales in China in 2007: 1,162,000 units
• Projected cost of new Toyta plant in Miyagi Prefecture: ¥20-30 billion
• Estimated annual production capacity at the new plant: 200,000 units
• Projected cost of new Honda plant for mini-cars in Mie Prefecture: ¥50 billion

Sources: Bank of Japan, Cabinet Office, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japanese National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry, Japan Wind Development, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Japan Automobile Dealers’ Association, Japan Mini Vehicles Assocation.

While a lot of these are just highlights and numbers across the board, Honda seems to be definately cashing in the Chinese and Indian motorcycle market. I just wonder how the other competitors stand.

Although its not made clear, if the figure for February Sales on Mini-cars is for Japan alone, that would mean that over half of all non motorcycle vehicles sold in Japan were of Kei/Mini Class.

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