Core Viewpoint - Japanese automakers are facing significant challenges due to U.S. tariffs, leading to a collective profit decline of 1.5 trillion yen (approximately 68.78 billion RMB) in the first half of 2025, marking a 27.2% year-on-year decrease [6][7]. Group 1: Impact of Tariffs - The North American market has severely impacted Mazda and Subaru, with Mazda's U.S. sales accounting for about 30% of its global sales, resulting in a profit drop of approximately 97.1 billion yen (about 4.45 billion RMB) due to tariffs [6]. - Subaru, with nearly 80% of its sales in the U.S., faced a tariff impact of 154.4 billion yen (around 7.08 billion RMB), nearly offsetting its profits from vehicle sales [6][7]. Group 2: Domestic Market Saturation - Japan's domestic car market is saturated, with a new car sales forecast of approximately 4.42 million units in 2024, a decline of about 7.5% from 2023 [8]. - The younger generation in Japan shows a declining interest in car ownership, with 32% citing "sufficient family cars" and 28% concerned about high car prices [8]. Group 3: Global Market Challenges - Japanese automakers have historically relied on overseas markets, which account for nearly 80% of their sales, but are now facing increased competition and market share losses, particularly in China and Southeast Asia [8][9]. - From 2021 to 2024, Japanese automakers lost significant market share in Southeast Asia, with declines of 5% in Malaysia, 6% in Indonesia, and 12% in Thailand [9][12]. Group 4: Declining Sales in China - Japanese automakers have seen a decline in sales in China, with Toyota's sales down 1.7% to 1.908 million units, Honda's down 10.1% to 1.234 million units, and Nissan's down 16.1% to 794,000 units in 2023 [9]. - The market share of Japanese brands in China dropped from 20.6% in 2021 to 11.2% in 2024, largely due to the rise of domestic electric vehicle brands [9][12]. Group 5: Shift in Consumer Preferences - The younger generation in Southeast Asia is increasingly favoring electric vehicles and brands that offer better value and technology, leading to a shift away from traditional Japanese automakers [12][17]. - Japanese automakers are struggling to adapt to the electric vehicle trend, with their market share in the rapidly growing EV segment remaining below 30% in Southeast Asia [16][17]. Group 6: Financial Performance and Future Outlook - Despite challenges, Toyota remains the world's most profitable automaker, with a profit of 31.2579 billion USD (approximately 224.5 billion RMB) in 2025, significantly outperforming competitors [17][21]. - The overall performance of Japanese brands in other sectors, such as convenience stores and cosmetics, is declining, indicating a broader struggle beyond the automotive industry [18][21].
不止汽车,日系品牌也在迎来“全线溃败”