Non-Japanese car manufacturers have snubbed the 41st Tokyo Motor Show, which begins later this month.

Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Hyundai, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have all declined to exhibit in Japan.

Economic rationalism 101 - the Japanese car market is one of the world's most protected, despite official rhetoric to the contrary. Foreign brands enjoy only five per cent market share in Japan, so why even bother turning up?

Compare the US - where foreigners hold 55 per cent of that market. Europe: 20 per cent. And Australia? 80 per cent of our cars are imported. Japan is a closed shop, in practice.

Subaru will launch a Gullwing Tourer concept at the Tokyo Show. The car is moderately cool, details are wafer thin, and production is unlikely. You can put gullwing doors on anything. But that doesn't make it an SLS. Subaru insiders are doubtless secretly relieved Ze Chermans aren't coming to the Tokyo show.

Full Story here and the gullwing here

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Hear this story in Episode 19 of TheDriveShow