The most popular Japanese truck is most likely the small white transporters used by farmers to traverse narrow roads and small farmlands. However, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted for a different truck to build strong ties with US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Asian country, according to an AP report.
Aiming to strengthen economic ties with the world’s largest economy and build a strong relationship with Trump, Takaichi lined up US-made cars, including a large American Ford F-150 truck, in the courtyard of Akasaka Palace, where the leaders held their first meeting on Tuesday.
Trump, known to be a fan of the Ford F-150, reacted favorably to the idea that the Japanese government would most likely buy dozens of pickup trucks.
He also complained about the lack of US-made cars in Japan and highlighted the Asian country’s strict safety standards.
Trump met with newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi in Tokyo today. The two leaders signed a framework to secure supplies of critical minerals and rare earths.
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Why does Japan have fewer American vehicles?
However, practical concerns such as local tastes, road conditions and size, and marketing may account for fewer American vehicles in Japan. These cars are usually too big for Japanese roads. Notably, Japan is smaller than California, parking is limited, and many of the streets are very narrow.
What do Japanese consumers like?
Most consumers in Japan prefer compact or mini cars that can easily navigate crowded and narrow roads. Consumers who can afford luxury foreign cars seem to be opting for compact or mid-size vehicles from Europe, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi.
According to the Japan Automobile Importers Association, Jeep is the best-selling American brand, excluding US-made Japanese cars such as Honda, Mazda and Nissan.
Most American cars are left-hand drive, unlike in Japan, where the drive is typically on the right, corresponding to the side of the highway toll booths. In addition, lower mileage, limited maintenance options and a sparse service network contribute to the fact that American brands, with the exception of Jeep, face challenges in Japan.
“Why don’t American cars sell well in Japan? Because they lack understanding of road conditions and housing, as well as energy conservation,” former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament in April.
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While Trump likes the idea of having more American cars in Japan, it remains unclear how the government will respond.
When Trump learned of the Ford truck plan during his flight to Asia on Air Force One, he reacted enthusiastically.
“He has good taste,” Trump told reporters from Takaichi. “That’s a hot truck.
The challenge remains for Takaichi to manage the complicated trade relationship that Trump slashed with tariffs earlier this year, the report said. Trump is urging allies to buy more American products and to commit financially to building factories and energy infrastructure in the US.
In September, the previous Japanese administration pledged to invest $550 billion in the US, prompting Trump to drop a threatened 25% tariff on Japanese goods to 15%. But Japan wants the investment to benefit Japanese sellers and suppliers.
