Import carmakers leasing acres of coast to store unwanted vehicles

Import carmakers leasing acres of coast to store unwanted vehicles

Filed under: Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota



The hardship being endured by Detroit is making headlines across the country, but November sales figures showed that Motown manufacturers aren't the only ones struggling to move metal. Industry all-stars Toyota and Honda saw similarly steep sales declines, evidence of which is piling up on lots like the Port of Long Beach, where thousands of Toyotas and Mercedes are lined up with no place to go. The traditionally successful automakers are looking to lease out another 20+ acres each to make room for more vehicles coming to the port from overseas. Nissan is experiencing a similar scenario, but a deal to store vehicles at Long Beach fell through, causing Nissan to look elsewhere to store its unsold fleet. At the San Diego port, Honda, Mitsubishi, and VW models are piling up, too.

Just a couple years ago, a big deal was made out of the fact that thousands of Dodge Dakotas and Rams were piled up in parking lots across Michigan. Now it seems the only way an automaker isn't storing hoards of vehicles is if they've stopped making cars and trucks all together. Something tells us the deals for 2008 models are going to be even better than they are now. And we're not just talking Calibers and Rangers. Thanks for the tip, Rene!

[Source: Reuters | Imageavid McNew/Getty]Import carmakers leasing acres of coast to store unwanted vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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Wow man, soon theyll be giving US money to take their cars off their hands...

It's a buyers market.

It's too bad I don't really want any of the new cars available right now. In IS250 would be nice, but I doubt those aren't selling.

gimme gimme lol