From Japan, which is under economic sanctions against Russia, the export value of used cars (used passenger cars) increased significantly in the first half of 2022 (January to June). The amount is 61 billion yen, about 1.5 times the amount in the first half of last year before the economic sanctions. The 73,949 units exported to Russia are the top, far ahead of the 56,971 units exported to the United Arab Emirates in second place (according to Ministry of Finance trade statistics). Japanese cars have been popular in Russia for a long time, but after the invasion of Ukraine, this trend has only increased.
Most of the used cars shipped from Japanese ports are transported to Vladivostok, the largest port city in the Far East (population of about 600,000). In the hilly area on the outskirts of Vladivostok, there is a huge used car exhibition and sales market, and more than 80% of the cars are said to be Japanese cars, and dealers from all over Russia come to buy them there.
Recently, online transactions that do not go through trade shows have become active, and a business model has been established in which information on cars purchased at Japanese auto auctions is uploaded to websites and sold directly to users. There is also information on
In Russia, it is right-hand drive (vehicles are left-hand drive), but in Vladivostok and Moscow, right-hand drive Japanese used cars are commonplace. You can see it on YouTube and Google Street View.
Japanese used cars are exported to 135 countries and regions. It’s great to hear that it’s being reused all over the world and that it’s helping the lives of people in those countries.