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Koji Endo, auto analyst at Advanced Research Japan Co. in Tokyo, said that grabbing share in the luxury market is difficult because brand loyalty is strong for luxury nameplates like BMW. "Young rich people don't want a Japanese car. They want imports," he said. Toyota officials say that has been gradually changing. They also believe the market domination that Toyota has in Japan is a plus. As younger Toyota drivers grow older, they may opt for a Lexus, they say. But the big problem may be that many young Japanese don't have the money to buy any car, let alone a luxury car. Public transportation is so sophisticated in most Japanese cities, people can get around fine without a car, which come with relatively high tax, inspection and parking fees. The trend among youngsters to shun car ownership has grown so widespread a special term was coined: "kuruma banare," meaning "leaving cars."
[Associated
Press;
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