All About Japan Autos

Finding the best deal on a new car is tough, and it might get even more difficult as the weather warms up. Cars that source their parts from Japan are currently threatened with shortages – the result of the devastating tsunami and earthquake last month – and although production is slowly getting back to normal, some key components are still in short supply.

The automotive press has taken note, and some are suggesting that if you’re looking for a good deal, it might not pay to wait. “Any production disruptions caused by the devastation in Japan have yet to be felt directly, but savvy consumers realize that it makes sense to buy sooner than later,” said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com in a press release. “Given the situation in Japan, we expect that product shortages could arise for some models beginning in May. This year, it won’t make sense for car-shoppers to wait until summer to get the best deals.”

As a result, some automakers are still figuring out the best way to resume production. Last week, Nissan issued a press release saying that most plants were resuming normal operation. However there are still some issues. “Further complicating Nissan’s situation is that its Iwaki engine plant in northern Japan — which builds engines for U.S. models such as the Murano, Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 — was heavily damaged and could take several weeks to repair,” writes Edmunds. “Nissan said it is considering shipping engines to Japan from its plant in Decherd, Tenn., to fill the void.”

In addition to production woes, the current economy is also causing some manufacturers to raise prices. The yen has grown stronger against the U.S. dollar in the last year, which has reduced the profit that Japanese automakers see from Vehicles sold in the States. Toyota planned a price hike for May, which is largely due to these economic factors. However, Toyota is still recovering from the disaster as well. The automaker announced that it will resume operations from April 18 to April 27, but only at half capacity.

We’ve already noticed that most automakers deals were more competitive last month. “Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz already appear to have unseasonable drop-offs in inventory,” says Edmunds. “Honda is suffering the most: all four of Honda’s top-selling models — Accord, Civic, CR-V and Insight — showed steep declines in inventory compared with last month.”

If you’re in the market for a new car and want to save, act now. Otherwise, you may be waiting a very long time to find a good deal. Check out this month’s best car deals to see what new car discounts and incentives are available. We’ve also put together the best deals from Toyota, Chevrolet, Honda and other brands. Start your shopping there to get the best deal.

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