While Japanese auto exporters may be a great source for buyers who are looking to purchase grey import vehicles, how do the automakers themselves feel about this method of vehicle distribution over which they have no control? There are some distributors and car makers who see this method of importing vehicles to be a viable threat to the franchised dealerships over which they have control. However, not all distributors see it this way. For some, having more vehicles from a less popular brand in the country means that the manufactures and distributors can make more money off of the parts and service that these cars will need.
As for the buyers, purchasing used cars from Japan can actually save them quite a bit of money, particularly in countries where the taxes on new cars are very high. In some countries like Peru, it’s actually cheaper to convert the car for driving on the other side of the road than it is to pay taxes on a new car.
