Toyota IMVs are not sold in Japan, why?

[usokpower]

The decision not to release IMV models in Japan may have something to do more with their culture rather than their business sense, despite the well known fact the The IMV project is purely for the Asia-Pacific region.

The japanese have been known to prefer brands and units that are japanese made. Such nationalism is indeed praiseworthy and is the reason for Japan's success story after WWII.

In all likelihood, IMV models made in other countries wouldn't sell that well in Japan. Just look at how imported brands are doing in Japan.

That's my 2 cents on the matter.

ongah noh. It will be classified as an import coz all those hilux and innovas are made in thailand.

[carlocaraddict]

Maraming modelo na ng sasakyan sa Japan. Baka hindi na worth it to introduce another model in Japan, taking into account the market and competition.

Take Toyota for example, what are the available models in the Philippines? Camry, Corolla Altis, Vios, Hilux, Rav4, etc., which are quite limited.

In Japan, kotse pa lang: Century, Celsior, Crown/Majesta, Aristo, Mark II, Chaser, Supra, MR-S, Windom, Altezza, Platz, Caldina, Soarer, Celica, Corona/Premio, Camry, Corolla sedan, Corolla Fielder, Corolla Runx, Carina/Levin/Trueno (maybe phased out), Prius, Rav4, Harrier, etc.

OT:
Levin/Trueno is been phased out for almost 10 years na.
Carina replaced by Caldina(wagon) and Premio (sedan)


back to the topic:
I read in the newspaper or sa international mag na "IMV will be sold in ASEAN etc etc...........but Japan is not in the list because pick ups are not selling well in Japan"

[gaijin]

Pick-ups are definitely not popular in Japan. Because most japanese and foreign residents here can afford to buy an SUV, 4WD or a closed van (Hiace, Bonggo, etc), there is very little market for the pickup except perhaps those living in the boondocks or those in Hokkaido.

The Daihatsu Hijet and Suzuki Every pickups are mostly owned by farmers or fishermen. These puny pickups also have a 4WD variant.

vicokyski,
Yes, its true that car dealers will not sell you any vehicle without a valid parking space for it. Fortunately for me, i had a garage at home that made it easy to buy a mini-van.

This IMV that's being discussed will not reach Japan shores. There is no market for them here. These AUVs have been designed and built for South East Asia.

[mbt]

walang compact pickup ang toyota sa japan, besides the utility pickup trucks?? hehe, how intriguing... then again, maybe they're simply too big for the japanese

[explorer]

walang compact pickup ang toyota sa japan, besides the utility pickup trucks?? hehe, how intriguing... then again, maybe they're simply too big for the japanese

pickups in japan are used for utility, and not as SUV. toyota doesn't make big pickups or trucks because its Hino unit is making trucks for them.

[explorer]

Napanood ko na rin ung commercial ng IMVs on discovery channel. Ung pagkahaba haba na commercial na iyan ay ibig sabihin lang ay....

Toyota made cost saving vehicles that meet outstanding global standards. High quality vehicle that will cost you less.

But how come theyre not sold in Japan? While I was watching the interview of toyotas technical or managing director sabi nya although the design came from Japan it is only intended for other asian countries. Not really the exact words but this is mostly the content of his message.

So bakit?

toyota has so many IMV-like vehicles in japan. the corollas and coronas have their own 5-door (wagon) version in japan aside from ipsum and around 3 more models (japan market only) that have similar body configuration. so they don't have introduce another 5-door (wagon) vehicle. besides, the japanese are very discriminating customers, if your automobile is made outside japan, you'll have a hard time selling them. the only exceptions are the luxury cars, but still the volume (number of units sold) is very small compared to the mass market.

[quiksie]

baka pang 3rd world countries lang ang "big 3" na IMV. Introduce palang kasi nila yun 3, baka experiment muna sila sa SEA

[gaijin]

I rarely see any pickup trucks in Japan except for these types:

[vicoyski]

I rarely see any pickup trucks in Japan except for these types:

That's prolly because Japan is a heavily industrialized country. Pick-ups are mostly used for agricultural purposes. Being industrialized, you'd see more large trucks, instead of pick-ups, in use. What's strange is, farmers prefer to use SUVs in Japan rather than pick-ups.

Also, in Tokyo, before you can purchase a car, I believe you'll need proof that you have a parking slot at home. A pick-up will eat a lot of space. It is for this reason that compact and sub-compacts are all the craze there...

[sikuya]

That's prolly because Japan is a heavily industrialized country. Pick-ups are mostly used for agricultural purposes. Being industrialized, you'd see more large trucks, instead of pick-ups, in use. What's strange is, farmers prefer to use SUVs in Japan rather than pick-ups.

then the US is an exception. america is a heavily industrialized country and pickups are everywhere.and so do SUVs.

[vicoyski]

then the US is an exception. america is a heavily industrialized country and pickups are everywhere.and so do SUVs.

Yup! US is an exception... Just look at how big that country is compared to Japan. They have all that open space to race a truck and a half! :suv:

[vicoyski]

then the US is an exception. america is a heavily industrialized country and pickups are everywhere.and so do SUVs.

Yup! US is indeed an exception... Just look at how big that country is compared to Japan. They have all that open space to race a truck and a half!

[OTO]

Maybe it doesnt meet Japanese safety or emissions standards. Mitsu had to retain the old bumper of the Evo VIII on the Evo IX to meet US safety standards.

[OTEP]

IMV's were never intended for the JDM market. Sabi nga sa showbiz, 'you cannot please everybody'. Iba ang market ng sasakyan for Japan, if they made the IMV marketable in Japan, it might not work for the rest of the region.