Act immediately to do your best here and now!
Currently, the share of new energy vehicles (NEVs, including BEVs and PHEVs) in China has surpassed the halfway mark at 52.74%, and this proportion is expected to continue rising. A large-scale survey recently revealed the rankings of the world’s top 42 NEV brands currently sold in China.
Sadly, not a single Japanese automaker made it onto this list of 42 companies. In contrast, nearly all German automakers are ranked, though most are scattered around the 30th position.
Based on this trend and survey results, it is highly likely that sales of Japanese vehicles in China will plummet significantly by 2025–2026. This outcome is inevitable, as the price gap between NEVs and traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles has already disappeared in China, with NEVs often being the more affordable option.
Moreover, high-performance and affordable Chinese-made NEVs are rapidly gaining traction in markets traditionally dominated by Japanese automakers, such as Southeast Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. The decline of Japanese vehicles in these regions is almost certain.
China’s push toward electrification is reflected in the rapid expansion of its EV charging infrastructure, as shown below (while there are some statistical variations, the overall trend is consistent):
As of July 2019: 32,700 charging stations
End of 2021: 1.147 million stations
2023: 2.7 million stations
End of May 2024: 9.924 million stations
October 2024: 11.884 million stations
November 2024: 12.352 million stations (a year-on-year increase of 49.5%)
China’s charging speed capability is 3–5 times faster than Japan’s.
By the end of December 2024, the number of EV charging spots in Japan stood at 24,592 locations, an increase of 906 locations compared to the end of November. However, China’s infrastructure is approximately 502 times more widespread than Japan's. Even when adjusted for population, including rural areas, the difference remains 44.46 times. In urban areas, China’s charging infrastructure is estimated to be nearly 100 times more prevalent than Japan’s.
The critical difference between new-economy manufacturers, such as Chinese automakers and Tesla, and old-economy manufacturers, such as Japanese and European companies, lies in their sense of speed. Over five years, the number of EV charging stations in China has grown 377.7 times, and the same rapid pace is evident in the ongoing shift to BEVs.
On December 23, 2024, Toyota announced plans to construct a new factory in China to begin EV production in 2027, approximately three years later. For comparison, Tesla’s time from groundbreaking to production is around seven months—about four times faster than Toyota. The new plant will produce approximately 180,000 units of Lexus, a luxury brand, in Shanghai. Previously, Lexus vehicles sold in China were mainly manufactured in Japan at the Miyata Plant in Kyushu (ES, RX, NX, UX, CT) and the Tahara Plant in Aichi Prefecture (LS, GS, IS, LC, RC) and then exported to China.
Global Lexus sales amount to approximately 820,000 units, with breakdowns as follows:
Japan: 90,000 units
United States: 320,000 units (produced in Canada and the Kentucky plant in the US)
China: 180,000 units
Europe: 60,000 units
Other regions: 170,000 units
It’s only natural to ask why Lexus has decided to manufacture locally in China. The primary reason is that China offers superior cost-reduction potential compared to Japan, especially as Lexus aims to achieve 100% BEV production by 2035. Consequently, the Tahara Plant near Toyohashi (annual production capacity: approximately 320,000 vehicles, 280,000 engines, with around 8,000 employees) is likely to see a sharp decline in Lexus production by 2027. This shift could lead to significant employment changes, including relocation, business closures, and unemployment, for tens of thousands of workers across Tier 1 to Tier 4 suppliers.
The town of Tahara will face a severe economic impact, and Toyohashi, with its many related businesses, will also suffer substantial damage.
Meanwhile, if Donald Trump returns to the US presidency, his “America First” policies will likely impose additional tariffs. To avoid these, Japan will be pressured to purchase significantly more US agricultural products and military equipment. Furthermore, the financial burden on Japan under the US-Japan Security Treaty is also expected to increase severalfold.
Given Japan’s current struggles—such as food security issues and the mounting interest burden from its astronomical debt—it will be impossible for Japan to meet Trump’s demands. However, as a subordinate state, Japan has no choice but to comply, meaning the Japanese people will become even poorer than they are now.
This situation will have devastating effects on cities like Toyohashi and Atsumi. To survive in such a turbulent environment, the only solution is to master the "true learning" that I have advocated for years and to consistently create value for others through practical action. Sadly, 99% of Japanese people remain unaware of these realities. But you, as part of the 1% who understand this truth, are in a fortunate position.
If you don’t take advantage of this opportunity now, you risk being forsaken by the divine. Luck visits a person only three times in their life! As Buddha also taught: “Three hundred million lives in Shravasti” and “Even Buddha’s patience wears thin after three times.”
Act immediately to do your best here and now!