Posted on 05/12/2016 12:56:24 AM PDT by chopperman
Soaring costs could diminish the number of major Japanese car makers to just three or four players by 2021, according to automotive research firm Kelley Blue Book.
The world's third-largest economy is also the world's third-largest vehicle producer, boasting at least eight leading brands, including the world's biggest-selling automaker Toyota Motor. Other major car producing countries, such as Germany and the U.S., only have a handful in comparison.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Nitsanbushi
Daihondu
Ismazdu
Subaruki
Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Subaru are probably the ones to go under first.
That would leave Toyota, Lexis, Nissan, Infinti, Honda and Mazda. Of those Mazda is the smallest.
Toyota already dropped the Sion brand. I wonder about the Ininiti brand by Nissan
#3 - I would agree that Mitsubishi and Isuzu are the most likely candidates for dissolution. However Lexis is just a rebadged Toyota as is Infiniti is just an expensive Nissan. Both of those premium brands are wholly owned subsidiaries of their respective parents. So I would not expect them to disappear.
Isuzu and Mitsubishi make trucks. I do not see them leaving that market.
I believe Isuzu is already out of the light-duty vehicle market, at least in North America.
Don’t forget Acura, which is Honda’s “premium” brand. Honestly, I see so few Acura’s around I don’t know how/why Honda keeps that brand afloat.
Yeah, Nissan, Renault, Infiniti, Samsung Motors, Dacia, Datsun, Venucia and Lada are all one company according to Wikipedia.
That is why I listed Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Subaru. Subaru has remained small on purpose and I think it has hurt them. They were trying to be a Japanese Volvo and fill a nitch market. Mitsubishi was hit with a scandal and had Fiat level quality problems in some of their cars and I don’t know what happened to Isuzu.
We could probably add Suzuki into that pot of failing car makers as well.
I wish Mazda still made a pickup. I need a truck, or at least want one and really like the CX-5 my wife bought
Not to mention the Koreans have put a serious dent in their market share.
They already do - they are everywhere - but so are Hyundai and Kia and Audi and Buick. China is about the only growth market left, and the competition is on.
Mazda and Ford’s partnership ended a few years ago, IIRC.
I think it was Ford’s doing, when they divested themselves of a bunch, like Jaguar, Volvo, etc.
cheers
Jim
Ford divested in Mazda a few years ago. Isuzu use to build the S series trucks for GM as well as the early Colorado and Canyon. They currently produce diesel commercial vehicles. They’ve been pretty much regulated out of the US.
Subaru is owned by Fuji heavy Industries. They are the fastest growing Japanese brand in the US.
The Top Japanese brands are produced in the US. For instance the Subaru Legacy is produced in Indiana. The Camry is produced in Kentucky (actually the Subaru plant also produces the Camry, Toyota is Subaru’s largest shareholder) and the Honda Civic is produced in Ohio.
Mitsubishi just closed thier only plant in Illinois this past year.
Honda isn’t going anywhere. They typically don’t even view themselves as a car company per se, but an engine company, that also makes the parts that go around the engine. They are diversified.
Toyota is also fairly diversifed.
Subaru is a narrow focus, but also has a dedicated brand following.
Mazda would be my pick along with Mitsubishi, although Mitsubishi has other markets it plays on.
What intesting is that more and more, it seems like all these economists and analysts do very little actual “analysis”. It’s more like just throw enough stuff out there till something sticks and then shout, “See, I was right!”
—— Subaru -—— ??
Don’t cha just love it
Mitsubishi is a POS and has the worst value retainment.
Joe Izuzu can save Izuzu.
Subaru holds its value amazingly well.
All Tacoma pickups are made in San Antonio.
Except for the EVO.
Maybe it will regain value as a musuem piece...
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