How to Work for an Import Car Importer? The Basics of Working for a Foreign Car Manufacturer

What is an import car importer?

Import car importers are business owners who import so-called “foreign cars,” complete vehicles of foreign brands, into Japan.

There are two main import routes by which foreign cars are sold in Japan: authorized imports, in which cars are imported directly from overseas automakers, and parallel imports, in which cars are imported through overseas dealers. Authorized imports are new cars only, and used cars are not included.

Imported vehicles are delivered to consumers by sales dealer companies that are subsidiaries of import importers or operate independent dealerships. In recent years, online sales methods have also emerged, such as TESLA and Hyundai.

In this article, we will discuss the basic knowledge you need to know about working for an import car importer.

(Reference: Japan Automobile Importers Association )

Differences from Japanese subsidiaries of foreign manufacturers

As the above chart shows, not all importers are Japanese subsidiaries of foreign manufacturers. Not all foreign finished car importers have their own subsidiaries in Japan, because having a corporation in Japan entails additional costs such as labor costs. For this reason, there are not only manufacturers whose global headquarters are wholly-owned and have a Japanese subsidiary, but also manufacturers such as Lotus that are outsourced and operated under an agency agreement or special contract.

Initially, agency contracts were the norm, but in recent years, wholly-owned Japanese subsidiaries of foreign manufacturers have come to dominate the market.

List of Imported Car Importers

Various foreign brands of vehicles are sold in Japan, but they are largely divided into passenger cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles. Let’s take a look at which companies operate each of these brands. (as of November 2023)

More and more brands belong to the same automotive group, even if they are manufactured in different countries.

Just as Nissan has formed an alliance with Renault of France, foreign manufacturers of finished vehicles are also cooperating with each other on a global scale. PSA and FCA merged to form the Sterantis Group.

(Reference: Japan Automobile Importers Association )

(manufacturer of) passenger car

Operating brands 100% owned by foreign complete vehicle manufacturers (in the order of Group ABC)

• Aston Martin Japan LLC
  • Aston Martin
• B.M.D.W., Inc.
  • BMW
  • MINI
  • Rolls-Royce
• BWD Japan K.K.
  • BYD
• Ferrari Japan K.K.
  • Ferrari
• General Motors Japan K.K.
  • Cadillac
  • Chevrolet
• Hyundai Mobility Japan Co.
  • Hyundai
• Jaguar Land Rover Japan K.K.
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
• McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd.
  • McLaren
• Mercedes-Benz Japan Co.
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Smart
• Renault Japon K.K.
  • Renault
  • Alpine
• Stellantis Japan K.K.
  • Alfa Romeo
  • ABARTH
  • Citroen
  • Fiat
  • Fiat Proffesional
  • DS Automobile
  • Jeep
  • Peugeot
• Maserati Japan Ltd.
  • Maserati
• Tesla Motors Japan, LLC
  • TESLA
• Volkswagen Group Japan K.K.
  • Volkswagen
  • Audi
  • Lamborghini
  • Bugatti
  • Bentley
• Porsche Japan K.K. (Volkswagen Group)
  • Porsche
• Volvo Car Japan K.K. (Geely Group)
  • Volvo

Operating brands under agency contracts and special agreements

• Nicole Racing Japan, LLC
  • BMW Alpina
• L.C.I. Corporation (Geely Group)
  • Lotus
• Carrosse Corporation
  • Proton
• RTC Corporation
  • Roof｜RUF
• PCI Corporation
  • Saab

motorcycle manufacturer

Brands operated by wholly-owned foreign motorcycle complete vehicle manufacturers (in order of Group ABC)

• B.M.D.W., Inc.
  • BMW Motorrad
• BRP Japan K.K.
  • Can-Am Spyder
  • Can-Am Ryker
• Ducati Japan Ltd.
  • Ducati
• Harley-Davidson Japan, Inc.
  • Harley Davidson
• KTM Japan K.K.
  • KTM
  • Husqvarna Motorcycles
• Kimco Japan K.K.
• KYMCO
• Piaggio Group Japan K.K.
  • Aprilia
  • Moto Guzzi
  • PIAGGIO
  • Vespa
• Polaris Japan K.K.
  • Indian Motorcycle
• Triumph Motorcycles Japan Ltd.
  • Triumph Motorcycle

Operating brands under agency contracts and special agreements

• PROTO Inc.
  • Benelli

commercial vehicle manufacturer

• BWD Japan K.K.
  • BYD Electric Bus
• Hyundai Mobility Japan Co.
  • Hyundai Bus
• Scania Japan K.K.
  • Scania
• UD Trucks Corporation
  • Volvo Trucks

【最新データで探る】外資系自動車メーカーの市場状況｜国別シェアとランキング

Future Import Car Importer Market Forecast

Accelerate collaboration and mergers

As many brands have already merged or joined under the same umbrella, we expect to see more mergers, acquisitions, and alliances in the future, as the CASE drive requires investment in the development of new technologies such as electrification and automated driving technology. Therefore, there is a limit to the amount of technology investment that can be made by a single company, so partnerships and alliances will allow for greater investment in technology development. This will be a great advantage when the new technology development is successful.

The same can be said for parts manufacturers as well as complete vehicle manufacturers, but it is useful to keep in mind each company’s vision and what technologies they focus on for development and investment to help prepare for the interview.

2. the possibility of the rise of emerging foreign manufacturers

The acceleration of EVs could also lead to the entry of foreign complete vehicle manufacturers into the Japanese market: TESLA established a Japanese subsidiary in 2010, Hyundai began selling vehicles in Japan in 2022, and BYD began selling passenger cars in Japan in 2023. The Japanese automobile market is a very large market from a global perspective, so for foreign manufacturers, success in the Japanese market will lead to significant market share gains. Nevertheless, depending on the topographical features and infrastructure building activities in Japan, a unique market, it is possible that EV makers growing in overseas markets will enter the Japanese market.

What English proficiency is required for import car importers?

English proficiency requirements vary by company and position. At Japanese subsidiaries of foreign manufacturers headquartered overseas, business-level English proficiency is required, especially for management positions, as communication with the head office is essential. In addition to the global headquarters, there are also expatriate employees from the headquarters and foreign nationals employed in Japan, so there will be situations where English is used in everyday work.

Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that English proficiency is always necessary for promotion and career advancement after joining a company, even if the position does not require English proficiency at the time of hiring.

By type of job, some sales-related jobs do not require English proficiency because the main focus is on sales activities for the Japanese market.
On the other hand, positions in human resources, marketing, and other areas that often involve collaboration with global headquarters tend to require business-level English proficiency.

Because the job requires practical English skills, including speaking and writing, and interviews are often conducted in English, there are few cases that specifically state the required TOEIC score, but it is recommended that a TOEIC score of around 700 is a good guideline.

Are there engineering jobs at import car importers?

Some importers have R&D development technology centers in Japan. Each importer has its own policy on whether or not to establish a technology development center in Japan. Also, each importer has its own policy as to which areas of technology development are to be carried out in Japan.

The following importers may also have development sites in Japan and may be looking for engineers.

• Hyundai Mobility Japan R&D
• Mercedes-Benz R&D Japan
• Volkswagen Group Japan
• Great Wall Japan Motor Co.
  • Great Wall Motor is a manufacturer of finished vehicles, but at this time, it does not import and sell finished vehicles as an importer in Japan, only R&D. (As of October 2023)

It is also not necessarily true that importers without development sites do not have engineering projects.

Since it is necessary to verify quality and conduct driving tests in the Japanese market, there may also be job openings for test engineers and quality control, depending on the size of the import importer.

How to find a job at an import car importer

Contact Turnpoint Consulting for more information!

However, since some companies may have as few as 10 employees, they do not actively advertise their open positions, and most of the time, the positions are advertised privately. However, some companies may have as few as 10 employees, so they do not actively advertise their employment opportunities.

Because Turnpoint Consulting specializes in the automotive/mobility industry, we can provide you with a comprehensive list of such private jobs.

We also handle a variety of jobs related to mobility depending on your experience, including positions at Japanese complete vehicle manufacturers, parts manufacturers, mobility service companies, and consulting firms.
In addition to introductions, we offer free professional support for your selection process, from document correction to English interview support. Please feel free to register with us even if you would like to speak with us first.