Toyota Says It Could Sell U.S. Autos in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan’s largest auto maker, is ready to consider selling U.S. cars in Japan if such a request is made, a company official said Wednesday.

Kimiaki Kuroki said the company already is negotiating with Volkswagen AG of Germany about selling its cars in Japan.

“We are basically ready to consider the selling of U.S. cars in Japan as well if this is proposed by any U.S. auto maker,” Kuroki said.

He said, however, that no U.S. auto maker has made such a request.

On Monday, Vice President Dan Quayle urged Japanese government efforts to increase American car and auto parts sales in Japan.

Eiichi Nakao, minister of international trade and industry, told Quayle that Toyota was ready to import and sell General Motors Corp. cars in Japan.

GM President Lloyd E. Reuss said in Detroit that GM would like to increase sales in Japan but added: “We’re not working on anything specific with Toyota.”

U.S. auto makers have been suffering from declining sales and severe Japanese competition in the U.S. market.

A total of 221,706 imported passenger cars were sold in Japan in 1990, up 22.9% from a year earlier.