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U.S And Japan Car Industries

U.S and Japan Car Industries


  It is unfortunate that the U.S. chose to use automobiles as its wedge to open
the alleged "closed" markets of Japan. One Japan-based managing executive of the
Big Three has even admitted that they consider the Japanese automobile market to
be open. Japan is not the island of protectionism in a sea of free trade that
its critic allege. The problem for the U.S. auto-makers is not a lack of market
access, but a lack of effort. The first step required for the U.S. auto makers
to sell competitively in Japan is not to impose of ridiculous tariffs, but to
have Detroit bring up the quality to Japanese standards. All in all, the U.S.'s
decision to use automobiles as its wedge to open the Japanese market was surely
a dangerous one. In addition, the utilization of unilateral actions by the U.S.
is clearly a violation of international trade law. Not only is this decision a
resemblance of managed trade but a policy which will weaken the leadership
position of the U.S. in the world economy as well.
  The U.S. needs to do what the Japanese did when they penetrated the American
market; hard market research and heavy investment. The Japanese spent billions
of dollars studying American taste and manufacturing models that suited them.
The Big Three have generally confined their efforts to sending models that they
have made specifically for Americans. Bill Duncan, the head of the Japan
Automobile Manufacturers Assn. states that "it was the basic principals of
competition that made the Japanese automobile industry strong."
  One example which reflects the short-sightedness of the Big Three is the
insufficient number of right-hand models available in Japan. Since cars in Japan
are driven on the left side, all domestic makers produce right-hand drives. It's
simple, the inconvenience of a left-hand drive, at tolls, parking lots or when
overtaking another car is too dangerous. Naturally when the Japanese export
their cars to the U.S., in each of the 190...