Trump wants more American pick-ups in Tokyo and London. That may be a hard sell

By David Dolan, Maki Shiraki and Marie Mannes

Tokyo/Stockholm, 7 August (Reuters) –Donald Trump Japan and Europe have a small number of American cars to buy – but it has little nothing to do with trade barriers. From Tokyo to London, many consumers see Detroit’s offers as very large and very gas burners.

This view made Chevrolets and Cadillacs from Toyota Corolla to Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio, Chevrolets and Cadillacs in cities full of thinner cars.

Trump often complains about what he refused to accept US cars, while Japanese and Europeans sell millions of cars a year. In the latest trade agreements, both markets agreed to quit or mitigate security tests in American vehicle imports. Europe will reduce taxes on US cars.

However, it may require more rules and low tariffs to convince the large American-made Ford F-150 trucks and Cadillac Escalade SUVs to buy.

“American cars are designed for wide roads and highway driving, so it may be difficult to handle them in the narrow Japanese streets.” He said. He tends to be enthusiasts in his / her 50s and 60s, who grow up in American cars on television and films.

In the last week, two Chevrolets, both on the left, were serving a bright brown 1971 Nova and a low 1986 El Camino. The steering wheel in Japan is on the right.

Yasue inherited his love for American cars from his father, who started to work twenty years ago and went to California to watch the cars. Yasue took over after his father died nine years ago and sold about 20 vehicles a year.

“What makes American cars special is the design. The body shape is better than Japanese or German cars. Especially lines like rear lines and fenders,” he said.

Last year, about 3.7 million new cars were sold in Japan, one -third of these mini or “Kei” cars – small, fuel -saving vehicles not produced by American car manufacturers. In general, foreign cars made up 6% of new automobile sales, the Japanese automobile manufacturers association showed data.

The data from the Japanese Auto Imports Association showed that data were shown and 570 Chevy, 450 Cadillac and 120 Dodge were sold.

Ford withdrew from Japan almost ten years ago. Tesla It makes cars more elegant than Detroit and becomes more popular. The data do not give a cast for the home manufacturer.

‘We do not buy Ford F-150s’

In Europe, smaller US cars built locally made well: the best -selling Ford Puma and the old Fiesta. However, in the last twenty years, Ford and General Motors have returned to larger turntables and SUVs, the narrow streets of Europe and the less suitable vehicles to the compact car culture.

According to the data of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Ford, a major player in Europe since the beginning of the 1900s, saw that sales in the region fell sharply from 1.26 million vehicles in 2005 to only 426,000 in 2024. The market share fell from 8.3% to 3.3%.

Aston Martin’s former CEO Andy Palmer, “We do not buy Ford F-150s, this is not what our paths are scaled, not what our customers want.” He said.

GM came out of Europe in 2017 and sold Opel after withdrawing Chevrolet, but returned with Cadillac Lyriq last year. According to the automatic data company JATO, the US -made SUV sold only 1,514.

A GM spokesman said Cadillac has enlarged his completely electric series in Europe and that the vehicles were well received in the markets where they were launched. A Ford spokesman said that the company exports “passion products” to Europe like Bronco and Mustang, as well as local models designed for the market.

Clive Sutton, a British automobile vendor selling luxury American models in London, said that buyers have been rarely with vehicles such as giant Cadillac Escalade. But he admitted that it was a challenge.

“There are people who want this car because of exclusiveness and perceived status.” He said. “But it is definitely not the easiest car to find a parking space in the center of London.”

Competitive market

Trump also pressured South Korea to open its market to American cars, and said that custom -free access is a part of the trade agreement of the two countries that it adopted last week.

According to the data of Korean Automobile Imports and Distributors Association, imported vehicles are less than one -fifth of the automobile market and US models for only 16% of the imported automobile segment dominated by German competitors.

German producers also created a strong asset in Japan’s luxury market. Mercedes-Benz sold more than 53,000 vehicles last year and made it the most popular foreign brand and followed more than 35,000 BMW. Japanese automobile manufacturers say that Europeans are successful because they have processed time and resources to the market.

In the meantime, Detroit automobile manufacturers are usually associated with left drive cars, which are more difficult to drive on the left side of the road.

However, some US manufacturers are changing.

A GM spokesman said the Eighth Generation Version of GM has been offering only right -hand driving since its launch in 2021. Corvette sold less than 1,000 a year for Chevy’s only model in Japan and for the last decade.

This year, GM, Cadillac Evs and Lyriq deliveries began in July.

‘Wow, a foreign car’

According to importer data, Jeep, selling right -hand models, has shown that it has been the most popular American brand for more than a decade. Last year he sold shy of 10,000 vehicles in Japan.

A nitta “kei” car driving, but Jeep Wrangler’s “friend” and “outdoor” appeared to be described. The owner of the 42-year-old hairdresser now hopes to switch to another limited number of beige models in the second jeeps. Park The parking lot is tight but can be managed, and two friends have purchased Wranglers since then.

“People often ‘wow, a foreign car!’ But once you drive, I wish more people to try.

Nitta, while Wrangler is quickly burned from the fuel, the re -sales value makes good, it is possible to change color, what the owners do, Nit Nitta said.

JEEP owner Stellantis spokesperson, the owner of the actively encouraged, he said. The spokesman said he announced a cooperation with the series “Jurassic World” in July.

Large American cars and trucks may have difficulty following the traces of Jeep.

Daniel Cadwell, an American living in Tokyo, used Japanese camping vans and wagons to the United States of the United States. He said he hit the size of American cars when he went home.

Cadwell, who manages Javan imports in Portland with US -based business partner, said, “Very big ones.” “I think it is very difficult to see such a car in Japan.”

(Reporting by David Dolan, Maki Shiraki and Tom Bateman;