American vehicles have never sold exceptionally well in Japan but Jeep has somehow attracted a large following in the country and is selling vehicles in record numbers.
In the first eight months of the year, Jeep sold 6,344 vehicles in Japan. While that number is tiny compared to what it sells in the United States, it is significantly ahead of any other U.S. carmaker. In fact, Chevrolet sold only 373 vehicles in the first three months of the year while Cadillac mustered up only 327 sales.
In the past eight years, Jeep’s popularity has soared in Japan, Automotive News reports. In 2009, it sold less than 1,000 vehicles there but last year, reached a record 9,388 sales thanks largely to the arrival of the Renegade. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles hopes to top five figure sales this year and thanks to the impending rival of a new Compass and Wrangler, delivery figures are expected to rise even further in the coming years.
Speaking about the brand’s success in Japan, FCA’s local chief executive Pontus Haggstrom said the key to success in the market is to adapt vehicles to meet the needs of the Japanese.
“We have to spend money and engineering hours to do it, but we think it’s worth it. They are things that make our jobs harder and make it more expensive and time-consuming to bring cars to Japan. But are they trade barriers? My honest opinion is, no. Are they excuses for why I can’t sell or succeed in Japan? No,” he said.
Jeep’s success in Japan comes at an interesting time for the brand and during a stage where President Trump wants to sell more American-made vehicles in Japan.
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