Toyota Motor Corp announced on Thursday that it has begun selling two U.S.-manufactured models, the Tundra pickup truck and the Highlander sport utility vehicle, in Tokyo. This move utilizes a simplified import procedure enabled by a tariff agreement between Japan and the United States, which allows cars manufactured and certified as safe in the U.S. to be sold in Japan without additional safety testing [1]. The Tundra, produced in Texas, and the Highlander, manufactured in Indiana, are now available in Tokyo, with plans for nationwide sales starting this summer [1].
Toyota intends to sell 80 Tundras per month at a suggested retail price of 12 million yen ($75,000) and 40 Highlanders per month at 8.6 million yen [1]. The company also plans to introduce the U.S.-produced Camry sedan once preparations are completed [1].
The tariff agreement follows a series of U.S. trade policy changes. In April of the previous year, the Trump administration imposed a 27.5 percent tariff on foreign-made cars, significantly higher than the previous 2.5 percent. However, the rate for vehicles from Japan was negotiated down to 15 percent in July and formally implemented in September [1].
Auto exports represented about 30 percent of Japan's total exports to the United States in 2023, making it the largest sector in bilateral trade [1].
CONCLUSION
Toyota's launch of U.S.-made vehicles in Tokyo marks a significant step in leveraging new trade agreements to streamline imports. The move is expected to impact both the Japanese and U.S. auto markets, with concrete sales targets and pricing established. The simplified import procedures and adjusted tariffs may foster increased cross-border automotive trade.