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Mazda, Sollers sign to start joint local production

12th January 2012
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Mazda Motor Corp. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the intent to establish a joint venture production facility with OJSC Sollers. The proposed production facility is to be established in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal district and supply several Mazda nameplates for the Russian market. Sollers is one of Russia’s leading automotive companies, engaged in the production, distribution and servicing of vehicles.

Russia is Mazda’s second largest market in Europe and sales are rapidly increasing. Mazda sold approximately 28,000 units during the period from January through September 2011, a year-on-year increase of approximately 77 percent.

In line with its mid term plan objectives, Mazda is expanding its business in emerging markets.

Deregistered vehicles for export up in October

22nd December 2011
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The number of deregistered vehicles for export purpose (Yushutsu Masshou) totaled 106,283 units in October, an increase of 43.5% from a year earlier. This was the first month of year-on-year increase in two months.

The October figure also marked a 108.5% increase compared with the previous months.

Deregistrations of medium to large-passenger car rose 45.7% to 34,176 units, while those of small cars increased 49.0% to 52,210 units.

Deregistrations of medium to heavy-duty trucks were up 16.9% to 4,587 untis, while those of light-duty trucks were up 49.0% to 52,210 units. Used bus deregistrations totaled 570 units, up 22.8% from a year earlier.

Deregistered special purpose vehicles totaled 2,034 units, up 27.8% from a year ago result.

So far this year (January through October), deregistered vehicles for export purpose totaled 815,039 units, up 7.1% from a year earlier.

Automobile industry groups call for major tax reform

15th December 2011
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A total of 21 automotive groups, including the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), held a joint conference in Tokyo to send their message toward automobile tax reform.

In November, Japan’s automobile organizations already urged the government to terminate automobile acquistion and weight taxes (tonnage tax), while calling for new incentives to help sell environmentally friendly vehicles, after the current tax benefit system ends next year.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Japan currently imposes nine car-related taxes totaling 2.4 to 49 times more in terms of monetary amount than those imposed in the United States and European countries for purchasing and keeping vehicles, noting the levies constitute double taxation that must be abolished.

“Automobiles are a lifeline for people today, but the extremely heavy load in maintaing them is placing large burden on users,” Japan Automobile Federation President Setsuo Tanaka told at a press conference in Tokyo.

The groups said abolition of the taxes would also help the auto industry maintain production and employment in Japan amid the strong yen, which has lowered Japanese automakers’ competitive power and even driven some toward collapse.

The organizations also called for fresh incentives for eco-friendly vehicles, which have been eligible for tax benefits under the current system that will expire at the end of this fiscal year.

A government program that reduces taxes levied on eco-friendly cars will likely be extended beyond sping next year, when it is currently scheduled to expire, according to sources.

The program, which reduces automobile acquistion and weight taxes on vehicles with high fuel efficiency, will likely be extended until fiscal 2013 or later, the sources said.

The government and the ruling Democratic party of Japan have plans to conduct a full-fledged review of the automobile acquisition and weight taxes in th future.

However, a greater priority in terms of tax reform forfiscal 2012 is discussions on a proposed hike in the consumption tax rate, the sources said.

Used vehicle exports rise for the 1st time in 4 months

08th December 2011
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In October, used vehicle exports totaled 79,239 units, up 8.9% from a year earlier. It also indicated an increase of 22.1% compared with the previous month.  The october result marked the first month of year-on-year increase in four months. The upward performance was partly caused by expanded exports to New Zealand, United Arab Emirates 8U.A.E.), Kyrgyz, etc.

According to a country based analysis conducted by the International Auto Trade Association (iATA), Russia maintained the largest destination for Japanese used vehicle exports. Used vehicles bound for that country were 9,374 units, slightly up 2.7% on the yar. The average FOB price dropped by around 20,000 yen.

Exports to the second ranked New Zealand climbed 51.2% to 9,276 units due to last minute demand before the introduction of strict er emission rules for used cars. The avearge FOB price remailed flat.

Vehicles destined for U.A.E. totaled 6,598 units, up around 50,000 yen.

Used vehicles bound for Chile, ranked fourth, were 6,406 units, up 9.3%. Exports to South Africa, ranked fifth, were 5,463 units, down 6.8%.

Used vehicles bound for Pakstan, ranked sixth, significantly increased from last year’s 639 units to 4,317 units. The average FOB price, however, fell from last year’s 825,000 yen to 505,000 yen.

In october, remarkable year-on-year increases were found in exported volume to Kyrgyz (up 49%), Trinidad and Tobago (up 98%), Suriname (up 31%), Zambia (up 52%), Afghanistan (up Jamaica (up 303%), etc.

In contrast, exports were very weak in Kenya (down 41%), Bangladesh (off 35%), Georgia (off 36%), and Thailand (off 53%).

So far this year, used vehicle exports totaled 699,680 units, up 0.2% from a year earlier.

Over-1,000cc new vehicle sales on the rise

30th November 2011
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Comined sales of over 1,000cc engine vehicles and minivehicles in September totaled 462,192 untis, down 2.1% from a year earlier.

Sales of over 1,000cc-engine class vehicles (so-called “Tourokusha”) in Japan marked the first increase in 13 months. The August sales were 313,70 units, up 1.7% from a year earlier.

In the first seven months of this year, sales of new over 1,000cc engine vehicles totaled 1,966,951 units, down 25.9% year-on-year from last year’s 2,653,546 units.

So far this year, combined sales of over1,000cc engine vehicles and minivehicles totaled 3,084,337 units, down 23.7% from a year earlier.