Chairman Go Goeltinger
Happy New Year.
As we begin 2025, I would like to extend our best wishes for the New Year.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you all on starting the new year in good health.
Now, from January 1st of this year, I am serving as the Chairman of JAIA.
JAIA’s mission is to support its member companies in delivering a diverse range of imported vehicles from around the world, equipped with cutting-edge safety and environmental technologies, including electrified vehicles, to Japanese customers. I will do my best and keep this mission in mind.
With the backdrop of technological advances aimed at meeting social demands such as carbon neutrality, along with the deepening needs of users, the trends towards GX and DX in the automobile industry have been accelerating recently. The automobile industry is facing numerous challenges, and JAIA is committed to addressing these issues. However, we also look forward to working in partnership and cooperation with auto-related organizations to resolve the broader challenges facing the industry as a whole.
Last year, JAIA established a supporting membership system. We will also work in cooperation with all JAIA supporting members.
This year too, JAIA will continue to support the business activities of its member companies and contribute to the sustainable development of Japan’s motor vehicle market. Specifically, we will promote activities in line with the five pillars of JAIA’s activities: 1) market revitalization; 2) environment and energy; 3) safety and international harmonization of regulations and certification; 4) fair trade and after-sales for automobiles; and, 5) motorcycles.
Last year, in particular, with regard to electrification, the government continued to provide subsidies for vehicle purchases to promote the introduction of clean energy vehicles, and our member companies expanded their lineups of EVs and PHEVs, etc., and sales of imported EVs exceeded 20,000 units for the second consecutive year.
JAIA also held an xEV promotion event in November last year at multiple venues, including Gyoko-dori Street in the Marunouchi area in the heart of Tokyo, which featured an exhibition and test ride program of 46 vehicles from 12 companies — largest ever. The event provided an opportunity for the general public to experience the appeal of xEVs and thereby helped raise awareness and promote the spread of xEVs. In addition, we provided opportunities for everyone to think about solutions to challenges in advancing electrification, such as charging and battery recycling, through exhibitions by related businesses and talk shows by experts.
Also, a survey of EV/PHEV users was conducted in conjunction with the event, which revealed that subsidies are encouraging the purchase of EVs and others. JAIA will continue to request the government and other parties to ensure seamless subsidies for xEVs.
Regarding charging infrastructure, which user surveys have shown needs further qualitative improvement, thanks to the efforts of all concerned parties, voltage regulations have been relaxed and progress is being made in improving the charging infrastructure, including the rollout of high-voltage, high-capacity chargers on par with those in Europe from next year. We hope that in the future a system will be implemented that allows vehicle users to temporarily exit the expressway for the purpose of charging in order to alleviate congestion on expressways. Additionally, while efforts to install charging infrastructure on public roads have begun in Tokyo and Yokohama, it is necessary for such initiatives to be expanded nationwide. Further development of charging infrastructure is important in promoting the spread of EVs and others.
Other important issues include international harmonization of various vehicle-related regulations and certification systems, further streamlining of application procedures, and creating conditions for resolving the issue of labor shortages in automobile maintenance.
By delivering a wide range of attractive imported cars to Japanese customers, JAIA will make every effort to revitalize Japan’s motor vehicle market and contribute to the development of a sustainable mobility society in Japan.
We would like to ask for your continued understanding and cooperation with JAIA’s activities in 2025. We sincerely hope that the new year will be a healthy and fruitful one for everyone.
