Debut of Japanese vehicles in Jamaica as ban on imports lifted

Japanese motor ventures, including the renowned Toyota brand, entered the Jamaican market with the arrival in Kingston of a shipment containing 67 vehicles. This development follows the recent lifting of the ban on most imports from Japan by the Jamaican government. United Motors Limited, part of the Matalon group, received the shipment consisting of cars, minibuses, vans, and station wagons. Acting promptly after the government's decision, United Motors, appointed as agents for Toyota Motor Sales and Company Limited, placed an order for 350 Toyota vehicles, and this initial shipment marks the commencement of regular imports.

PUBLISHED SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1973

1st shipment of Japanese cars here

Gleaner Trade Reporter

JAPANESE MOTOR ventures, including the world-famous Toyota motor car, have arrived in Jamaica. For the first time, a shipment of 67 landed in Kingston this week. They were consigned to United Motors Limited, a member of the Matalon group of companies.

Cars, minibuses, vans, and station wagons made up the shipment, which is the first of what is to be a regular importation of motor vehicles from Japan, following the recent lifting by the Jamaican government of the ban on most imports from this source.

United Motors Limited have been appointed agents in Jamaica for Toyota Motor Sales and Company Limited of Japan. They placed an order for  350 Toyota products, to arrive in regular shipments, immediately after the lifting of the ban and the grant of a quota for motor vehicle imports.

A spokesman for the company said yesterday that United Motors acted promptly as soon as the government's decision was made to bring in the Toyota vehicles. An order for 300 vehicles was sent off immediately to Japan, intended to be the first lot of Japanese-made cars to come to the island.

“They told us they had a supply for some 60 units available, which had been intended for another client, but the order had not been taken up by that client.” A spokesman said. “We told them to ship the lot immediately, so long as they conformed with the price ceiling, which had been set by the Jamaican government, as we wanted to be the first in the market."

Under a decision handed down by the minister of commerce and consumer protection, Japanese motor cars and motor vehicles can now be brought into Jamaica, provided that they come within a price ceiling of $2,500.

Unloading

So, this shipment of four-door and two-door Toyota motor cars, including a deluxe sports model, arrived at Kingston on Friday afternoon aboard the Japanese ship Atlantic Neptune.

Uploading started immediately at Berth 8 Kingston Wharves, Newport West, where the ship docked under the command of Captain Chu Xam Ki. She will leave here tomorrow for the United States.

When the next shipment would arrive could not be said by the spokesman for United Motors. He said that an order had been placed for regular shipments "but there was no guarantee when the next one would arrive, as this first one was out of schedule” and merely a token.

Orders for these imports, he said, were filled by the Toyota Motor Company on a three-month basis but, having regard to the fact that this small-scale first shipment had been made, there was no certainty when the next one would be.

General importation of motor cars and some other motor vehicles into Jamaica had been banned by the government under a recent order. However,  review of the importation situation has been done and importation is to be resumed but on a limited scale.

A system of quotas, based on previous performance, is being instituted. This is expected to cut down on the number of cars and other vehicles being brought into the island, which was regarded as very high and as constituting a drain on the island’s foreign reserves.

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