In Minato-ku, Tokyo Metropolis where I have been living, I see more and more imported luxury cars every year since ten years ago. Number of them increased so remarkably from the last summer that my Prius are frequently surrounded on streets at its front and rear and also at both sides by gray Bends or dark blue BMWs. The prominent number of these cars' drivers is woman. Some of them drive the most luxurious Benzs, S-class, to super markets to buy daily foods. Young ladies like small cars such as Benz A or VWs. They also like to drive red Volvo wagons. But most of them are cheap C-class Benzs or BMW 3 series and some its 5 series, which is a bit higher-priced. Jaguars are also popular among ladies, even after its manufacturer was bought by Ford. They increased so fast that the center of Tokyo Metropolis might have been occupied soon by imported vehicles.
I found recently that number of Benzs sold in Minato-ku from January though October this year is about 1.6 times more than in the same period of last year. BMW less than 1.2 times. VW over 1.4 times. Especially during July through September this year, number of Benzs sold is three times much more than in the same period of last year. In a month of October, 1.7 times more than in last year. BMW is sold 1. 2 times more in during last ten months and 1.6 times more in October. About 10 years ago, import share of market in Minatoku was about 50 percent. So at present, they got it nearly a hundred percent, I am afraid.
Japan has now only two manufacturers, Toyota and Honda, which can compete against the invasion of these imported cars. Without efforts by these manufacturers, the situation would never be changed. This fall's German charge to Tokyo market might be caused by the economic deflation in Germany. They might be obliged to increase the allocation to Japan market in order to decrease the number of inventory at home of their products, I imagine. But the biggest reasons might come from the facts not only they developed new products successively, their new products are well accepted by consumers in Japan. According to the Benz's products development plans leaked to us, some of their new products which are under development aim to Japan market.
Now the area where imported cars have big share is limited to a small part of Tokyo Metropolis, but their diffusion to other areas is already remarkable at some parts of country. If two manufacturers. Toyota and Honda, made no effort, Japanese vehicle market might been occupied by foreign vehicles by end of first half of 21st century.