Japanese carmakers are decided to begin large-scale investments to overhaul domestic dealership networks. The Toyota Motor Corp. likes to spend Y100 billion. Focusing on investing overseas, the automakers now see a pressing need to revive domestic sales by making dealerships more competitive. New-car sales remain modest in Japan even as consumer spending recovers. Because of that, Toyota plans to invest Y100 billion to renovate some 3,400 dealerships next year. In order to set up 150 outlets for Lexus luxury brand, the automaker spent about Y200 billion this year. Nissan Motor Co. plans to set up large showrooms two to three times as large as existing ones. It hopes that customers will be captivated to these new showrooms, each of which will be able to display about 10 vehicles. It’s more than twice as many as existing locations. Sales of new cars are estimated at 3.96 million units this year. It’s the same numeral, as was in 2004.

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