Tokyo tuners wow the crowd

Auto supermarket showcases the best of customized cars.

Indeed, the show must go on. Amid the dire prospects bedeviling the Japanese car industry, an estimated 250,000 people flocked to this year’s staging of the Tokyo Auto Salon to find out if tuners and custom car makers have something new and exciting to offer. Asia’s biggest custom car and car-related product show was held from Jan. 9 to 11 at the cavernous Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.

Organizers said at least 300 companies, schools and organizations, including major Japanese automakers, aftermarket parts makers, custom car shops, companies in automobile-related industries and automotive vocational schools showcased their wares at the TAS. Unlike last year’s show, which had the Lancer Evolution X and the Nissan GTR as the preferred display car of tuners, this year’s event was dominated by Nissan, with almost every tuner booth having either a Nissan GTR or Nissan’s latest iteration of the Z-Car, the 370Z.

A wide range of custom cars and customization-related products were on display, complete with all the information and know-how that enabled visitors to appreciate the products better. For an enthusiast hunting for the latest in custom car-related items, everything from shift knobs to carbon fiber hood and light alloy wheels were available for purchase. Bargain hunters had a field day at the Nismo, TRD and Ralliart booths, which sold authentic tuner items at half the price during the show’s last day. In addition, this comprehensive automotive aftermarket event held talk shows featuring appearances by celebrities and famous race car drivers, live musical performances, demonstration runs, test rides and other attractions.

The Tokyo Auto Salon event traces its history to the Tokyo Exciting Car Show, which was held in 1983 as a forum for establishing the custom car culture. The name was changed to Tokyo Auto Salon in 1987, and this year marked the event’s 27th anniversary.

An interesting footnote to this year’s TAS was the first-ever meeting between the Philippine Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and the representatives of the Asia Pacific Aftermarket Network. According to Sammy Liuson, founding member of PAAIA, the meeting was held to counter the adverse effects of recession. “It was a fruitful event and despite the gloomy economic outlook, both parties are optimistic about doing business this year. The emerging trend is to customize and upgrade. More people are holding on to what they have and now accessorize their cars rather than buy a new one,” Liuson said.

“Our trip to Japan was an eye-opener and it allowed the Philippine contingent an insight into how the performance parts makers develop new products and conduct their day-to-day operations,” said Atoy Llave, founding member of PAAIA. The strategic meeting between APAN and PAAIA was made possible with the coordination of Shigehisa Debari of Autobacs Japan, Masaaki Takizawa and Minoru Goko.