Move Over, Japan. American Cars Are Here

Issue #162

As always, thank you for your feedback. 

Tuesday’s issue will now be a shorter read, and we’ll keep Saturday’s issue as is. 

We want to shout out “The Glass Guy” and his beloved Ford Ranger, which he had from 1987 to 2015, when he retired. A reliable work truck indeed. 

Today, we discuss how the Japanese automakers are sending American-made cars back to Japan. It’s complicated, and we break it down for you.

Market News

• Defeat devices override car autopilots. So, California banned them. Here’s why the move makes a lot of sense. 

• GM ditched Apple CarPlay. So, how does it feel not having it in real life? This review explains. 

• Rivian hiked its prices. It cost them dearly, and here’s why. 

• These are the 20 best SUVs and cars for winter, according to experts. 

• For the first time ever, car prices average above $50,000. Here’s more.

Safety and Recalls

• Ferrari recalls six (that’s right, six) cars, in the most exclusive, yet critical, recall of the year. 

• Ford (do we even have to mention it?) recalls 1.5 million cars because of faulty backup cameras. 

• Chrysler recalls almost 300,000 Ram ProMasters because they can catch fire.

Car Culture

• This GM R&D veteran already helped change the automotive industry. Now, he wants to do it again with his new book.

• This spare part can cost as much as an entire used Honda Ridgeline, highlighting spare cost problems. 

• Nissan might solve the biggest problem with EVs, thanks to this new battery. 

• Speaking of Nissan, Infiniti came out of left field with a 1,000-hp SUV for SEMA. 

• GM could have saved Pontiac with this SUV.

Video Of The Week

TFL calls the VW Beetle the greatest car of all time. Do you agree?

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In The Know

Move Over, Japan. Here Come American Cars. 

A cult is growing in the US, revolving around a diminutive but peppy engine, usually no more than 660 cc, cramped seating, and cartoonish looks. These are the famous Kei trucks, and American car fanatics love them, as this article explains. 

This video reviews one of the most popular models. 

Getting your hands on one of them isn't easy, but chances are that, if you imagine the urban Japanese automotive scene, the kei truck is what comes to mind.

They are diametrically opposed to what we envision as the American car scene, with large SUVs and trucks. 

It would seem that one doesn’t work in the other one. However, Japan is the world's third-largest automotive market. The US is the second.

So, it makes perfect sense to master both, but it's not easy, unless you sell Wranglers, as this article explains. 

The Wrangler is an exception. Japanese buyers don't like a specific type of American car. Basically, we're talking about the larger ones. You can read more about it here. 

Crowded streets and expensive gas can do that. 

Both markets are contrasting, but they also share a lot in common. There’s always an interest in quality and looks, and buyers want everything from the cheap to the expensive. 

That perfect balance is what automakers want to dominate, and it's becoming more challenging amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics. 

So, to do that, companies will be creative. Honda, Nissan, and Toyota are going to import American-made cars back to Japan. 

Of course, it won't be all American-made cars. This article discusses how, in Nissan's case, the Murano is the ideal example. Japanese demand for an SUV has increased, and the Murano fits perfectly. 

On the other hand, Toyota could send the Corolla Cross overseas. 

Now, the Japanese brands seem to have a plan in place. But American automakers such as GM and Ford have yet to develop a clear strategy for introducing their models into Japan.

It's not that they haven't tried in the past. Here's a story of how GM tried to sell its cars in Japan, then brought them back to America to sell them here. 

The reality is that Japan is a market all too tempting to ignore. At the same time, it's a challenge that has happened in the past. This isn't the first trade standoff between the two nations, as this article recalls. 

Right-hand drive configuration and kei trucks aside, this new plan could work for Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. And, it might work for Ford and GM as well. All they need to do is find the perfect car for the challenge. I see the Trax and Trailblazer as excellent options for GM. As for Ford, I'm not sure.