GIFU, Japan — If American vehicles can't sell in Japan, why is Jeep doing so well?
Jeep is a rare American success story in a country other U.S. car brands have all but quit. Granted, overall volume is paltry — just 6,344 vehicles were sold through August.
But in Japan's tough import arena, Jeep keeps exclusive company.
The iconic American off-road marque is consistently a top 10 foreign brand in the world's third-largest auto market. In the first three months of the year, Jeep's sales rose 6.9 percent, ranking it No. 7, mostly behind European luxury players.
The next-best Detroit contender, Chevrolet, moved just 373 vehicles — fewer than Ferrari. Even Lamborghini outsold Cadillac, which managed a meager 327. Last year, Ford Motor Co., battered by years of sliding sales, abandoned Japan altogether.