Automobile Aftermarket in Japan Enters 'Age of Recycling'

TOKYO, Nov. 15, 2005 -- Yano Research Institute Ltd. (YANO), a leading marketing research and consulting firm in Japan, has conducted extensive research and surveys on the automobile (automotive) aftermarket in Japan and issued a market report that identifies and describes the latest issues, trends and activities of the Japanese automobile aftermarket based on reliable data and statistics comprised of over one hundred tables, charts and other informative materials.

The report, "Automobile Aftermarket in Japan 2005," indicates that demand will decline in a majority of conventional business fields of the Japanese automobile aftermarket, including: used car sales, automobile maintenance and repair services, auto insurance and more. The decline is expected as the sales and the total number of automobiles owned in Japan decrease in the future due to demographic changes (decreasing and aging of population).

In the 1990s, when sales and total number of automobiles owned in Japan were experiencing sluggish growth, automobile accessories and leasing business grew: auto accessories by capturing the needs for additional luxury and comfort, and auto leasing by changing the attitude of consumers from ownership to the use of automobiles. It is expected, however, that these two business categories will also grow into maturity soon, again due to the socio demographics of Japanese society as mentioned above.

On the other hand, the report reveals that there are several other market segments, including used car accessories and recycled parts/components that have emerged and are growing into established markets. The growth appears to be among environmentally concerned consumers who realize that limitless mass production and mass consumption have resulted in mass disposal creating environmental destruction. There has been a depletion of resources and other serious social problems, mimicking the environmental concerns caused by products such as drink-bottles and cans, home appliances and many others. Hence, the automobile aftermarket in Japan is entering into a phase of recycling to cope with environmental issues and to achieve sustainable growth.

The report covers 12 major business fields of the Japanese automobile aftermarket:

1) Used Car 2) Car Auctions 3) Automobile Leasing 4) Car Rental Business 5) Automobile Products 6) Repair Components 7) Recycled Parts 8) Automobile Service Industry 9) Automobile Maintenance Equipment 10) Automobile Insurance 11) Gas Stations 12) Parking Lots

  Detailed, comprehensive data, information and analysis are introduced in:

  "Automobile Aftermarket in Japan 2005"

  Issued in: October 2005
  Report Size/No. of pages: A4/ 197 pages
  Price: 230,000 yen (Japanese consumption tax is not included.)

* For more details, visit: http://www.yanoresearch.com/products/mktrps/Aftermarket_R.htm

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About YANO

YANO (Yano Research Institute Ltd.) is a leading marketing research and consulting firm headquartered in Japan. The company offers hundreds of market reports annually covering almost all industrial fields in Japan, as well as one-stop, ad-hoc marketing and consulting services.