Japan's reverse imports: Camry and SUVs test market shift
Reverse imports to Japan: Toyota, Honda and Nissan test SUV demand
Japan's reverse imports: Camry and SUVs test market shift
Japanese automakers mull reverse imports as SUV demand rises. Camry, Sienna, Ridgeline and Murano could return to gauge Japan's shifting market demand.
2025-10-31T19:33:28+03:00
2025-10-31T19:33:28+03:00
2025-10-31T19:33:28+03:00
After Toyota halted Camry sales in Japan in 2023 for the first time in 43 years, the sedan could be headed home again—only this time via reverse import from North America. The rethink follows weak domestic demand and a growing appetite for larger models that aren’t officially offered on the Japanese market.Beyond the Camry, Toyota is weighing imports of the Sienna minivan, a favorite in the U.S. and Canada but available in Japan only through gray-market dealers. The larger Sequoia and Tundra remain niche options, facing the same hurdles as the Ford F-150—bulk and taxation—issues that don’t disappear just because the badge is familiar.Honda’s shortlist of potential returnees includes the Ridgeline, Pilot, and Passport, none of which are sold officially in Japan yet remain in demand among SUV enthusiasts.Nissan, according to media reports, is discussing a Murano comeback after almost a decade off the domestic market, and is also considering imports of the Frontier pickup aimed at North American buyers.Overall, the reverse-import trend underscores a shift in Japanese tastes, with more drivers gravitating toward roomy, American-style SUVs. If these plans move ahead, they would serve as a practical way to gauge just how far that shift can go.
reverse imports, Japan market, Toyota Camry, Toyota Sienna, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Murano, SUVs in Japan, North American models, automotive market shift, Toyota, Honda, Nissan
2025
Michael Powers
news
Reverse imports to Japan: Toyota, Honda and Nissan test SUV demand
Japanese automakers mull reverse imports as SUV demand rises. Camry, Sienna, Ridgeline and Murano could return to gauge Japan's shifting market demand.
Michael Powers, Editor
After Toyota halted Camry sales in Japan in 2023 for the first time in 43 years, the sedan could be headed home again—only this time via reverse import from North America. The rethink follows weak domestic demand and a growing appetite for larger models that aren’t officially offered on the Japanese market.
Beyond the Camry, Toyota is weighing imports of the Sienna minivan, a favorite in the U.S. and Canada but available in Japan only through gray-market dealers. The larger Sequoia and Tundra remain niche options, facing the same hurdles as the Ford F-150—bulk and taxation—issues that don’t disappear just because the badge is familiar.
Honda’s shortlist of potential returnees includes the Ridgeline, Pilot, and Passport, none of which are sold officially in Japan yet remain in demand among SUV enthusiasts.
Nissan, according to media reports, is discussing a Murano comeback after almost a decade off the domestic market, and is also considering imports of the Frontier pickup aimed at North American buyers.
Overall, the reverse-import trend underscores a shift in Japanese tastes, with more drivers gravitating toward roomy, American-style SUVs. If these plans move ahead, they would serve as a practical way to gauge just how far that shift can go.
