TOKYO -- General Motors has done surprisingly well in Japan's shrinking market, notching three straight years of rising sales. But a dearth of right-hand-drive vehicles stymies hopes for higher volume. The redesigned Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Corvette go on sale next year, promising another sales boost. But because both are left-hand drive, their arrival means there will be only two nameplates in GM's eight-model lineup with the steering wheel on the correct side for Japan, where cars drive on the left side of the road. The outgoing CTS is one of the three current right-hand-drive models. Gregg Sedewitz, GM Japan sales and marketing director, said last week at the launch event for the CTS and Corvette in Tokyo. After the redesigned CTS comes in April, GM's only right-hand-drive offerings here will be the Chevy Sonic small car and Captiva compact crossover. Failing to configure American cars for Japanese roads is a stumbling block for Detroit brands trying to break into this notoriously finicky market.
It's often a turnoff for Japanese, who can choose from a large selection of right-handers from European companies. Yet for the Americans it's a chicken-and-egg problem. It's often not worthwhile to introduce a right-hand-drive version because sales are so low. And sales are so low in part because there are no right-handers. Sedewitz said more right-hand-drive offerings are needed to break out of the niche level; GM sells barely 2,000 vehicles a year in the world's third-largest auto market. But left-hand drive isn't always a deal breaker. The current Cadillac SRX cross-over, also offered only in left-hand drive, replaced an outgoing version offered with right. But sales of that nameplate grew anyway. Japan's domestic auto market has been in steady decline for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, import sales are at record levels. GM Japan sales grew in 2010, 2011 and 2012. But so far this year sales of Cadillac and Chevrolet, the only two brands GM offers in Japan, are virtually flat at 2,241, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association. GM's sales are way below their peak of the mid-1990s, when the company was selling 50,000 cars a year, most of them Opels. But in 2006 Opel decided to stop selling in Japan and other non-European markets as part of a refocusing of the brand on Europe. The 2009 bankruptcy further dented GM's Japan presence. GM has been a no-show for the past three Tokyo Motor Shows. GM is banking on better products and a refined marketing strategy to build sales slowly. The company is focusing on regional auto shows in such places as Nagoya and Osaka, instead of Tokyo. And it is revamping dealerships across the country. GM has only 33 outlets, compared with more than 180 for BMW.
The drivers in question are all members of the British Racing Drivers鈥?Club (BRDC) Rising Stars programme, which recruits promising young racers in the hope they will go on to forge a successful career in motorsport. The day starts with these rising stars showing what they can do in their natural environment: setting lap times on a handling circuit in Caterham Sevens. It鈥檚 a thrilling experience to watch, and no doubt an exciting one to take part in, but doesn鈥檛 the advanced driving test seem somewhat tame by comparison? We begin by asking this question of 24-year-old Max Coates, who competes in the Renault UK Clio Cup and is also a fully-qualified racing instructor. Coates admits he had some initial misgivings. 鈥淚 expected to be told to 鈥榞o slower鈥?and 鈥榙on鈥檛 have fun鈥?鈥?he says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not been like that at all. Coates鈥?observer, David Baverstock, helped him prepare for his advanced test, and tells us his on-road driving was far removed from his racetrack behaviour. 鈥淗e was actually driving in a very reserved way,鈥?Baverstock explains. Despite some initial caution, Baverstock says Coates鈥?track instincts soon made themselves evident on the road.
鈥淗e tended to turn in quite early, which you may well do on track to widen the cornering line as much as possible and make the most of the available grip,鈥?Baverstock tells us. Baverstock鈥檚 role was 鈥渢o notice things about the way that the guys are driving and to suggest other approaches that they might try out鈥? He says Coates, and all the other racers he鈥檇 coached, are 鈥渞eally fast learners鈥?who are 鈥渒een to consider all kinds of different ideas and approaches鈥? Coates鈥?assessor, Shaun Cronin, is one of IAM Roadsmart鈥檚 many former police officers, and explains the advanced driving test assesses candidates on 23 individual categories. These include areas one would expect a racing driver to excel in, such as overtaking and gearchanging skills, together with aspects not normally associated with the track, like eco driving and courtesy to other road users. 鈥淭hey are very skilful drivers on the track,鈥?Cronin says.
There are similar parallels in cornering, Cronin explains. 鈥淎s they鈥檙e approaching a bend, they鈥檙e going to get the car in the right position; we鈥檙e asking the same,鈥?he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l then get the speed right by brakes; we want the same. On a passenger ride with Coates and Cronin, we witness the sorts of things the advanced test assesses. Approaching the crest of a hill and seeing a bin lorry parked on the side of the road, for example, Coates slows down in anticipation of binmen in the road. It鈥檚 a small detail, sure, but it鈥檚 indicative of the kind of broad forward thinking the advanced test expects of those taking the examination. 鈥淭he test is going to make the roads a safer place because drivers鈥?observation, anticipation and planning is much better,鈥?Cronin adds. But before considerations such as reduced premiums can be thought about, there鈥檚 the small matter of the test itself. All the drivers taking their tests today have passed, and because the full results are read out in the BRDC clubhouse, Coates is no doubt one of the happiest people in the room. Not only has he achieved the fastest time in the Caterham challenge earlier on, but he has also passed his advanced driving test with a first - the highest grade on offer. What is the key thing Coates has learned? 鈥淭he importance of how far you look up the road,鈥?he says. And if a driver as highly trained as Coates can say that, it鈥檚 fair to say an advanced test is likely to make almost any motorist better, and safer on the road. Taking you driving test soon?
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