Shiotsu Autotrade Japan - President’s Blog

We get many requests for second hand Japanese cars and trucks from used car dealers as well as private importers in Zambia and Kenya.  We would like to inform you about the recent changes in regulations for importing second hand vehicles from Japan to Zambia and Kenya.  Kenyan government and Zambian government require all the vehicles that would be imported to these countries to undergo JEVIC inspection.

JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center Co Ltd) is an independent Japanese organization which specializes in pre-shipment inspection and certification of used vehicles exported from Japan to various countries.

As per new regulation for importing used vehicles to Zambia, the ZABS (Zambia Bureau of Standards) has appointed JEVIC for Roadworthiness Inspection of second hand vehicle from Japan destined for use within the Republic of Zambia, prior to export.  From May 14, 2009, all used vehicles exported from Japan to Zambia will need to undergo Road Worthiness Inspection by JEVIC.

The inspection criteria of Japanese used vehicles Kenya have also changed.  Please check the new regulation for importing used vehicles to Kenya for more details.  To summarize, all used vehicles imported from Japan to Kenya must meet the following criteria.

• All second hand vehicles imported to be imported to Kenya should be less than eight year old
• The imported used vehicles should be RHD (Right Hand Drive)
• The used vehicles should be accompanied with a Certificate of Roadworthiness issued by KEBS (Kenya Bureau of Standards) authorized by JEVIC.

We can arrange for the inspection before shipment, however, it may take up to two weeks depending on the availability of the inspectors.   You would need to pay the Inspection fee JPY 13,625 and our administration fees.  Once the JEVIC inspection is completed, we will book your vehicle for shipment.  Please note that you will have to face penalty in Zambia and Kenya, if you try to import vehicles without the JEVIC certificate

Technorati Tags: second hand vehicles from Japan, Zambia, Kenya, JEVIC inspection, JEVIC

In these days when the gas prices are going up day by day, if you need a vehicle which is tough enough to accomplish your challenging transportation needs and minimize your fuel expenses at the same time, you should think of Mini Trucks from Japan.  Mini Trucks – also called Kei trucks - are compact trucks powered by a 550cc or 660 cc engine. Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki, and Honda are the main mini-truck makers from Japan.

In Japan, you can find mini trucks plying on roads for transporting goods, in big cities like Tokyo, as well as in remote villages up in the mountains. These compact mini-trucks could be used for a great number of purposes such as farm vehicles, maintenance vehicles on school grounds, golf courses, ship yards, factory warehouses, camping grounds, flower nurseries, ranches and amusement parks.

There are numerous advantages of using these Japanese Kei trucks.

• Because of their compact size, they can travel to locations which can not be accessed by larger vehicles.
• They are fuel efficient, economical, and easy to maintain.
• They have a high degree of maneuverability,  so can be effectively used to navigate narrow streets in crowded cities as well as in the countryside.

Typically a mini truck from Japan would have specifications as follows
• Weight: 0.75 ton (1600 lb)
• Dimensions: Width 1.4 m (4′6″), Height 1.7 m (5′8″) and Length 3.2 m (10′6″)
• Payload capacity: 0.55 ton (1200 lb)
• Engine: 3 cylinder 660 cc (45HP) or 550 cc (40HP), Gasoline engine liquid cooled
• Drive: Four Wheel (4WD)
• Transmission: 4 or 5 speed
• Speed: Up to 80 Km/hr (50 MPH)
• Average: 17 km/liter (40 miles per gallon)

Mini Trucks from Japan have become very popular imports in the United States and Canada – as a solution for off-road transportation needs. Import rules are relaxed for these vehicles because of their versatility. In these countries, these compact trucks are typically used on farms, ranches and hunting grounds.

The most popular Kei truck models from Japan are Subaru Sambar, Honda Acty, Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet and Mitsubishi Minicab. I f you are interested in importing these Japanese mini trucks, we can find suitable vehicles to match your requirements. If you have a large requirement, we can ship these trucks in containers – offering you the benefit of savings in cost and freight.

Technorati Tags: Mini Trucks, Kei trucks, Mini Trucks from Japan

We ship top quality used Japanese cars and trucks at reasonable prices to our customers in Tanzania, on a regular basis.  We, therefore, have many loyal customers from Tanzania.  And, we regularly receive many inquiries and queries from our prospective buyers in Tanzania for importing used vehicles from Japan.  This post addresses answers to some of these queries.

How old car can I import to Tanzania?
For importing used cars into Tanzania, age of the car does not matter.

What is JAAI Inspection?
The Tanzanian government requires all used vehicles to undergo inspection for roadworthiness before the vehicles are shipped to Tanzania. JAAI Inspection certificate must accompany the vehicle. Please note, without JAAI certificate, you will have to pay 30% of the CIF value of the vehicle as penalty.

For all used vehicles exported from Japan, this inspection is conducted by JAAI (Japan Auto Appraisal Institute). JAAI is a no-profit organization formed under the countenance of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of International Industry & Trade in Japan.

What is Cotecna Inspection?
If the Freight-on-Board price (FOB price) of the imported vehicle is US$5000 or more, the vehicle also has to undergo an inspection prior to shipment, carried out by Cotecna Inspections,  Japan - a company appointed by the Tanzanian Government.

Does Shiotsu Autotrade arrange JAAI and Cotecna Inspections?
Yes, we will arrange the JAAI Inspection for all Tanzania bound vehicles before they are shipped. It takes up to two weeks depending the availability of quality control inspectors at JAAi.  Once we receive the JAAI inspection certificate, we will arrange for the shipment of your vehicle. We can also arrange for Cotecna inspection if necessary.

How much are the JAAI inspection fees?
We will quote the price of your vehicle which will include the JAAI inspection and our handling fees. The cost is around 30,000 JPY (US$300).

How much import duty I have to pay in Tanzania?
IDF (Import Declaration Form) is required for all vehicles imports to Tanzania irrespective of their value.  Please refer to the Tanzania Revenue Authority website for more details.

Import Declaration Fees for Tanzania are US$ 10 per unit  + 1.2 % of Freight-on-Board value. Import duties on vehicles imported into Tanzania are dependent on the size of the vehicle.

All vehicles up to 2000 cc: 20 % VAT, 25 % Import duty.
All vehicles above 2000 cc: 20 % VAT, 25 % Import duty, 10 % Excise duty
Commercial units – Trucks, Buses, passenger vans : 15% Import duty, 20 % VAT

Technorati Tags: used Japanese cars, Japan, used cars, JAAI Inspection

Isuzu 810 Series heavy duty trucks (10 ton trucks) manufactured by Isuzu Japan in the period 1989 to 1995 are very popular worldwide, especially in countries like Philippines, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Caribbeans, East Africa and South Africa.  These trucks are mainly used as dump trucks, tipper trucks, and mixer trucks. They are sturdy workhorses with high performance and therefore, very popular in the construction and landscaping industry.

These trucks are still available in Japanese used truck market at very reasonable prices.  Especially, because of the recession, prices of Isuzu dump trucks of models like CXZ71JD and  CXZ72JD have fallen by around 30% in a period of one year.  This is a big opportunity for our customers who are interested in used CXZ71-JD and CXZ72-JD dump trucks.

Currently we have many models of high quality 1994  CXZ71JD and CXZ72JD dump trucks available in our stock.  Recently we exported 10 models of CXZ71 and CXZ72 to our customers worldwide.  So, please don’t miss this opportunity - Be an early bird and get a bargain price on this popular series of Isuzu dump trucks from Japan.  Please check our latest Used Isuzu Truck Stock for more details.

Technorati Tags: Isuzu, dump trucks, mixer trucks, Japanese used truck, CXZ71JD, CXZ72JD

It is well known fact that Japanese car makers such as Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Honda are world famous for producing high quality cars. You can easily buy these cars from various car auctions held in Japan.

Along with Japanese brands you can also get to see other foreign brands of cars such as Volkswagon, Bentley, Mercedez Benz, Land Rover, Porsche, BMW, Volvo and Audi in Japan. These cars are used by Japanese people in the upper echelons of society as status symbols. Now the good news for those who are interested in buying used models of these top foreign brands, is that you can buy them at  used car auctions held in Japan. This can not only give you the pride of driving the luxurious non Japanese cars but also make you happy by not emptying your pocket.

Cars from Japan are famous because they are well maintained. There are various reasons for this well maintained status of Japanese cars. First of all Japanese drivers are good and they take special care of their vehicles.  Japanese road regulations are strict, so every vehicle goes through rigorous checking. So maintenance cost of old cars in Japan is very high. To avoid this, Japanese people usually put up their used car for auction and buy a new car. This applies to the luxury car foreign brands too.

If you are interested in buying used Right Hand Drive (RHD) or Left Hand Drive (LHD) luxury cars of foreign makers such as Volkswagon, Bentley, Mercedez Benz, Land Rover, Porsche, BMW, Volvo and Audi – with Japanese owners , please let us know your requirements and we will find a car matching your request.

Technorati Tags: Mercedez Benz, Land Rover, Porsche, BMW, non Japanese cars

The top four most stolen cars on the list have not changed since 2006.  As per the annual “Hot Wheels” report, the 1995 Honda Civic is the most stolen car in the United States. The 1991 Honda Accord takes the second honor, followed by the 1989 Toyota Camry. The 1995 Honda Civic is stolen more often than any other car in the United States, as per NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau). Other all-time favorites among the car thieves include the Acura Integra and Nissan Sentra.

Why do the used Japanese cars such as 1995 Honda Civic and 1991 Honda Accord are the top picks among professional car thieves? According to the NICB, car thieves continue to target these older cars because they provide the best price for stolen car parts. For car thieves, such cars are a pure treasure, even though you or the insurance company may consider these cars as a piece of junk. The car itself may not have much value, but its seats, airbags, converters, engine components, sound system, and other parts are worth a lot of money on the black market,  when sold individually, .

Parts of new vehicles are not as in demamd as those of older models. The older models were hot selling models a few years ago, and now need parts for replacement – so they are ripe for the car lifting.  So if you own an old Honda Civic or Honda Accord, please take good measures to prevent your car from being stolen.

Technorati Tags: Honda Civic, most stolen car, Honda Accord, Japanese cars

Hino Motors, Japan released Hino Scania series of heavy duty semi-tractors in collaboration with Scania of Sweden in 2005.  The new Hino Scania tractors were designed to comply with Japanese as well as European motor laws and regulations.

Review Centre, an independent agency for reviewing cars and trucks gave a 10/10 rating in their Hino Scania Truck Review.  Reported ratings were as follows.

Average Ratings

Value for Money	8/10
Reviewer Rating	10/10
Overall Rating	4.8/10

This Japanese truck from Hino Japan was ranked high by the reviewers for several reasons. The main factors are as follows.

• Low level of fuel consumption leading to Eco-driving
• Safety features such as Electronic Brake System, Electronic Vehicle Stability
• Improved riding comfort to the driver because of ergonomic design of the cabin and controls
• Reduced maintenance costs due to low wear and tear of parts
• Improved driver visibility by additional cabin height and new headlamps
• Improved environmental performance  by compliance with the New Short-term Exhaust Emission laws

It is no wonder that Hino Scania trucks are fast replacing Volvo and Mercedes Benz trucks in Europe.  If you are interested in importing used Hino trucks from Japan, please let us know your requirements and we can find a matchching truck from Japanese used truck auctions.

Technorati Tags: Hino Scania, Japanese truck, used Hino trucks, Japanese, used truck auctions

Last weekend  I was lucky to find time for my family to take them out for cherry blossoms viewing.  Kyoto is undoubtedly the best place in Japan for viewing cherry blossoms and it is just 30 minutes drive from my home in Osaka.  Former capital of Japan, Kyoto is very famous for its scenic beauty – and it is a pleasure for eyes to watch its enhanced beauty during the Cherry Blossoms season. 

Cherry blossom are special highlights of spring in Japan. Very few countries have the pink cherry trees which get covered wholly by flowers.  Though Cherry blossom can be seen only for week or so around April first week, those few days are the most glowing days of kyoto.  Many tourists visit Japan specially to experience the beautiful cherry blossoms also known as Sakura in Japanese language.

Japanese people love to sit under the cherry trees with their friends and families and watch the beautiful blossoms while eating and drinking - this style of flower viewing is also called as Hanami. In Kyoto,  the main attraction is “Cherry Blossom” festivals which take place everywhere in Kyoto during this time. Apart from this, “Cherry Blossom Dance” is another attraction of this season.  Different places in Kyoto experience different types of cherry blossom viewing.  Heian Shrine experiences   ‘weeping cherry-blossom” trees while in Path of Philosophy one can leisurely walk through the shelter of  blossoms. 

The short lived beauty of cherry blossoms has inspired many poets and philosophers in Japan. The Philosopher’s path  or ‘Tetsugaku no Michi’ in Kyoto is the special street lined by cherry trees, where many poets and philosophers indulged in their creative pursuits.

If you are coming to Osaka for buying Japanese cars from the used car auctions, you must have a visit to Kyoto in your itinerary. It is here you can get to know the real old Japanese culture.  Kyoto’s beauty also attracts many film makers to carry out shooting in its beautiful locations. Kyoto’s cuisines are equally famous for their taste. In Kyoto  can also get numerous types of delicacies which can be Buddhist due to its great influence in Kyoto and also different varieties of vegetarian food.

Technorati Tags: cherry blossoms, Kyoto, Japan, Sakura, Japanese, Hanami, Philosopher’s path, Japanese cars, used car auctions