Three big Japanese brands without world premieres at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

The organizers of the Tokyo Motor Show have put together a very helpful Booth Guide, which provides detailed information on the list of exhibits and exhibitors. Yet, there is a surprise. While all major Japanese brands use the show to make world premieres in addition to Japanese premieres e Lexus, Isuzu and Kawasaki have no world premieres scheduled at the show.

Lexus will have five exhibits at the Motor Show in Tokyo. It will have two Japanese premieres, but no world premieres. Toyota, for example, which is the parent company of Lexus, will have 16 exhibits, five world premieres and one Japanese premiere. Toyota will have the largest world premieres at the 2011 show. Honda is scheduled to have the biggest number of exhibits, 22. But it will not have as many world premieres as Toyota. Honda will only have 3 world premieres and 4 Japanese premieres.

From commercial vehicles Isuzu has the biggest number exhibits, 8. Yet, it has no world premieres, and only two Japanese premieres. In fact, Isuzu made its latest world premier, introducing new-generation D-Max in Thailand in latest September of 2011. There is good reason why in Thailand and it's a subject of a different story.

From the Japanese motorcycle makers Kawasaki has the third biggest number of exhibits following Honda and Yamaha. Kawasaki has eight exhibits and no world premieres, but it has three Japanese premieres.

All other major Japanese brands that make passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles will have world premieres. Tokyo Motor Show is as important for the Japanese brands as Frankfurt for German and European brands. Thus, when major Japanese brands like Lexus, don't have any world premieres in Tokyo that's already a very telling fact. It shows how the market and demand has shifted for these car brands from Japan to elsewhere.

The world premieres, these days are where the major markets are. Jaguar, Bentley and Lamborghini do world premieres in Los Angeles because California is a big market for these carmakers. Speaking of California, Lexus world premiered its 2013 Lexus GS 350 mid-size luxury sedan in Pebble Beach, CA even before the LA Auto Show, on August of 2011.

Reference: Tokyo Motor Show
Image source: Wikipedia
The press days of the show will go from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 of 2011. Tokyo Motor Show will be open from Saturday Dec. 3 to Sunday, December 11.