The strength of the Japanese yen is causing concern in the country’s auto industry, with a leading executive from Nissan suggesting the sector may face a crisis.

Speaking at the launch of the company’s hybrid car Fuga, reported elsewhere on the site today, COO Toshiyuki Shiga said: “We’re way past the point of talking about how the yen’s rapid appreciation would damage our earnings, or that we’re worried about it. I feel a huge sense of crisis over the strong yen.”

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Although the Japanese auto sector has hedged against the rising strength of the country’s currency, by moving production site overseas where possible, the prospect for Japan’s auto industry is a long term reduction in its competitive position.

The US dollar is around the Y80 mark at the moment, already much weaker than the Y90 most automakers had predicted for this financial year.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact