Local Japanese Bus Blog

Last August 31, a Russian judge orders the return of a shipment of 6 Japanese cars deciding that they were radioactive. Russians are known to favor the idea to buy Japan used vehicles because of overall performance and affordable spare parts. In connection with the “irradiated” Japanese cars, this is what Mitsubishi Motor’s official had to say to settle concerns anyone may have about the idea to buy Japan used vehicles, “I want to correct misconceptions about the effects of radioactive materials.” He confirmed that Japanese car parts and cars are not radioactive or irradiated. They are safe to buy and use.

In fairness to the Japanese, the judge also said that there is no proof to determine how the cars got irradiated. The facts only show that they had been exposed to excessive Beta and Gamma rays making them unsafe to use, but not how they got exposed. 

In line with train of thought, if one looks at the competition, it’s easy to see how possible it is to contaminate cars in order to steer buyers to non-Japanese cars. The auto industry is so competitive, it is possible that out of the hundreds of cars exported out of Japan, someone deliberately contaminated the 5 vehicles.  Just look at the facts:

• The 6 cars were part of a 170 vehicle shipment to the Russian island of Sakhalin
• In the April Car show in China, the world’s leading buyer of vehicles today, car makers from Korea, Japan, China, Germany, the United States and other countries were present to sell their products
• Knowing the production headaches most Japanese car companies are going through, the ability to fulfill orders was used as a selling point by other countries
• Radiation was a factor not openly discussed but ever present in backroom chats
• Expected new vehicle sales in China was 20 million units in 2010 and expected to increase by at least 10% this year

Still, Japanese car makers remain positive about their new models. These models were designed to cater specifically to the Chinese market. The main strategy of all Japanese vehicle firms was to stress the safety of their products and a new thrust to be more environmentally friendly.

Honda announced it will begin making smaller electric cars for 2012; Mitsubishi Motors will begin production of Global Small which is a fuel-efficient car; and Nissan remodeled its Tiida compact and will begin selling any time soon.

Aside from checking out the new Japanese buses, it’s important to look at older models. Used Japanese buses are being exported and sold all over the world, and as second-hand units, the preferred choice of most bus owners. The reasons for this is simple. They don’t break down with the right maintenance, they’re equipped with driver-friendly features, and the spare parts are available and affordable. 

For new Japanese buses, it might interest you to look at the Mitsubishi Fuso’s Aero Ace MM. It first came out in 2008 as an inter-city bus, shorter than the Aero Ace of 2007. Unlike the 2007 and 2008 versions, the MM uses the advanced technology for emission reduction called BlueTec. It operates well within the Japan emission regulation which is very exact and stringent. This means that you will not get into problems with your local authorities over uncontrolled emission regardless of how old the bus is. That is, provided proper maintenance is observed.

The top Japanese bus dealers will help you figure out what kind bus to get based on your needs. All you have to do is be upfront about your budget, the intended use, and your level of knowledge about buses in general.

Generally, you should be looking for fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions, larger fuel tank, an interior that has been redesigned with English stickers instead of Japanese characters, a conversion to left hand drive if needed, and an owner’s manual that you can understand.

Many used bus dealers target countries to sell the buses to and therefore make the necessary adjustments accordingly. Still, expect to see the Japanese characters or stickers left inside in many cases. Some say, it’s a matter of pride so people know the bus they are riding on was made in Japan. It is a sign of confidence that the bus will drive comfortably and effortlessly.

It should also factor high on your list that you be able to communicate with the bus dealers in case of questions after the sale has been consummated. Therefore, rely on bus dealers who have a website, land office, display lot, and employees. It would be good to see all these so you know that you’re buying from a legitimate dealer.