Japanese cars coming from U.S.

Japanese cars coming from U.S.

Based on article from KoreaJoongangDaily December 2012

Imports get break on import duties, but none of the models run on diesel

Japanese automakers are importing more American-made models to take advantage of the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement.

But they don’t have models that run on diesel, the new hot trend in Korea.

In October, Nissan started importing the Altima from a Tennessee plant.

On Nov. 30, No. 3 Japanese automaker Honda introduced the Odyssey and the Pilot made in its plant in Alabama. Last Wednesday, the company introduced the new Accord and Crosstour are made in a plant in Marysville, Ohio.

Japanese automakers said one reason they bring U.S. models to Korea is that they want to avoid the high-yen situation and get the benefit from the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement which went effect this year.

From March 15, the tax imposed on automobiles imported from the U.S. was halved from the previous 8 percent. The tariff will be completely abolished from 2016, according to the Korus FTA.

Cars imported from Japan are subject to an 8 percent duty.