Gasgoo.com (Shanghai July 24) - Japanese automobile manufacturers saw their sales in China fall dramatically last autumn, when tensions began escalating between China and Japan regarding the disputed Diaoyu Islands, leading to a consumer backlash against Japanese branded products. After nearly a year, Japanese manufacturers are finally starting to see their sales recover, with several of them reporting positive year-on-year sales growth rates this May. Their performances look to improve even more in the coming months. As a report appearing on chinanews.com today reveals, several new Japanese models will be making their market debuts before long.
FAW Toyota has plans to bring over several models, such as the new Vios, new RAV4, Edge and Prado, before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Guangqi Toyota will be bringing over the Verso in the next few months. Both joint ventures also have announced plans to increase support of their sales networks.
Guangqi Honda also has similar projects in store, with President Toshiaki Mikoshiba revealing that the JV will release ten new or updated models, including the Crider, ninth generation Accent and a new addition to its Everus own brand, by 2015. Additionally, Guangqi Honda announced work on a brand new automobile engine factory earlier this week. The site is Honda's second of its kind in the country. Meanwhile, Honda's fellow JV with Dongfeng will be releasing a brand new minivan model called the Jade (pictured above).
Smaller Japanese manufacturers, such as Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru, have also announced plans to introduce new models in the latter half of the year. Mazda's upcoming domestically manufactured CX-5 is slated to make its market debut in August. The 4.55 m long CX-5 (pictured below) is slightly longer than other compact SUVs, and will be powered by Mazda's brand new SkyActiv engine.
