The Japanese automobile industry is one of the biggest industries in the world. It supports number of companies that produces cars, trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, engines and spare parts, etc.  Japanese domestic auto market is the world’s third biggest after United States and China.  Japanese automotive manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru, Mazda, Kawasaki and Yamaha are popular names throughout the world.

How Japanese domestic car market is unique?

Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 45 percent of vehicle sales in overall domestic car market, except for 660 cc mini cars. 660 cc mini car segment in Japan is unique and which makes up more than one-third of the auto market and receive tax incentives.  Daihatsu Motor Co and Suzuki Motor Corp together make up more than two-thirds of Japanese small car market.  Most of the auto models in Japan undergo a full model change every four years to stimulate overall domestic car market.

Japanese Used Cars

Used car market in Japan

It is very expensive affair to own a car in Japan.  In Japan, nine different taxes are levied on car buyers and users which makes car more expensive. The taxes increase as the car gets older, so Japanese prefer to sell off older vehicles.  These factors make Japanese consumers to go for a new car purchase very often.  This also adds to steep depreciation rates on used cars in domestic market.  This sharp depreciation makes Japanese used cars inexpensive enough for exporting worldwide. 

In Japan, public transport by trains is a real and viable alternative to traveling by road. Japanese world famous Bullet Train (Shinkansen) normally takes care of longer distance traveling requirements. This is why Japanese cars are generally used for short distance commutes. We can say it in other words that Japanese car do less miles per year.  Normally, most of the used vehicles are less than 9 year old and have very low mileage.

Japanese cars have almost certainly never been driven hard.  Japanese drivers generally keep their cars in perfect condition and well serviced.  Japanese cars also have more features compared to those sold in other countries.  The used Japanese car prices are among the lowest in the world.  All these factors make Japanese used cars very attractive for importing into other countries. 

Japan has many public Used Auto Auction Halls, which sell about 20,000-50,000 vehicles every day.  Most of these vehicles get exported to other countries in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe.

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USS Auction Sheet

We have tried to write the English meaning of various Japanese terms used in the auction sheet.  Standard codes used by the auction inspectors are described with the following convention.

A1 :  Scratch or crack, 2- 3 cm
A2 :  Scratch or crack, less than 10 cm
A3 :  Scratch or crack, more than 20 cm
B1 or U1 : Dimple
B2 or U2 : Dent, less than 10 cm
B3 or U3 :  Dent, more than 20 cm
E : Dimple
H : Spare tire
W1 :  Repainted as good as new condition
W2 :  Repaired & repainted in good condition
W3 :  Repaired but the surface finish is bad
Y1 :  Minor crack 2-5 cm
Y2 :  Crack, l ess than 10 cm
Y3:   Crack, more than 20 cm

Car Features are mentioned as acronyms as follows

4WD : 4 wheel drive
AB : Air Bags
ABS : Anti Lock Brakes
AC : Air Conditioner
AW:  Genuine Alloy Wheel
CD : CD Player
LS : Leather seats
MD : MD Player
Navi : GPS Navigator
PS :  Power steering
PW : Power window
RK : Remote Key/ Keyless Entry
SR :  Sun roof
TB : Turbo
TV: TV (NTSC system)

Auction Grades are specified with the following codes

S : As good as  new condition. Less than 3 month old or under 5,000 kms

5 : Mint condition. As good as new condition.  No dents or scratches.

4.5 : Excellent condition.  Minor dents or paint scratches.

4 : Very good condition.  Well maintained, A few slight dents and paint scratches

3.5 : Good condition with some minor dents and minor scratches.

3 : Average condition with obvious dents and scratches. Some repairs needed.

2 :  Below average, unsatisfactory condition, some serious repairs needed.

1 :  Modified vehicle. Its engine, turbine were modified.   Body has defects by hail or body size has been modified.

R or A : Vehicle with Accident and damaged history, but repairable ,or re-conditioned vehicle.

RA : Very minor accident history.

***  Accident car or “As it is condition”.

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