世論 What Japan Thinks

With the termination of the Eco Car subsidy being largely responsible for the recently-announced 1.1% drop in Japan’s GDP for the previous quarter, this seems a good time to look at how the public perceived the scheme through the results of a survey from DIMSDRIVE Research.

Demographics

Between the 21st of October and the 5th of November 2010 7,681 members of the DIMSDRIVE monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 0.7% in their teens, 10.6% in their twenties, 29.9% in their thirties, 32,5% in their forties, 17.6% in their fifties, and 8.7% in their sixties.

From an economic standpoint, the Eco Car scheme was good for opening wallets and getting money circulating, the biggest issue these days in the Japanese economy. From an environmental standpoint, however, a lot of cars were upgraded earlier that they needed be, the life and recycling of the batteries in hybrids is still an open question, and due to the way the scheme was structured, a lot of cars were not really that ecologically sound. A good diesel, such as on a Volkswagen, can outrun most other cars, although diesel does not have a good image in Japan.

Research results

Q1: Do you have a standard car driving license? (Sample size=7,681)

Yes	87.6%
No	12.4%

Q2: Do you have a family-use car? (Sample size=7,681)

Yes	77.6%
No	22.4%

Looking at the figures by regions, the two major metropolitan areas had significantly lower car ownership figures; 68.1% in the Tokyo Kanto area, 75.8% in the Osaka Kinki area. Surprisingly enough, the next lowest figure was for the least densely-populated area, Hokkaido, with 85.8% having a car.

Q3: When buying a car for the family, to what degree are you involved? (Sample size=7,681)

Main decision maker	46.2%
One of the decision makers	22.1%
Just express my opinions	16.5%
Not involved, don’t know	15.2%

Q4: How often do you drive the family-use car? (Sample size=5,558, licence holders and have a family car)

Almost every day	35.5%
Four or five times a week	13.7%
Twice or thrice a week	21.3%
Once a week	13.2%
Twice or thrice a month	4.4%
Once a month	2.3%
Less than that	3.6%
Never	6.0%

Q5: Do you have an Eco Car in the family? (Sample size=7,681)

Have an Eco Car (to SQ1, SQ2, SQ3)	11.1%
Don’t have an Eco Car	63.4%
Don’t know	3.1%
Don’t have any car	22.4%

Q5SQ1: Why did you choose an Eco Car? (Sample size=853)

Good fuel consumption	79.6%
Kind to the environment	46.0%
Eco car purchase support system	45.1%
Eco car tax reduction system	44.1%
It’s the trend in society	3.2%
Other	2.3%
No particular reason	4.8%
Don’t know	2.0%

Q5SQ2: When buying your Eco Car, were you aware of the Eco Car tax break? (Sample size=853)

Yes	62.1%
No	15.4%
System wasn’t in place	19.9%
Don’t know	2.6%

Q5SQ3: When buying your Eco Car, did you make use of the Eco Car subsidy? (Sample size=853)

Used it (to SQ4)	57.0%
Didn’t use it	3.6%
Wasn’t such a system	30.9%
Car didn’t qualify for the system	4.7%
Don’t know	3.8%

Q5SQ4: If there had not been an Eco Car subsidy scheme, what effect would it have had on your car purchasing? (Sample size=468)

Would have put off buying	49.4%
Would not have bought	16.9%
Would have bought a different car	11.7%
Other	0.0%
Would have had no effect	30.5%

Q6: Did you know that the Eco Car subsidy scheme had ended? (Sample size=7,681)

Yes	93.7%
No	4.1%
Didn’t know about it at all	2.2%

Q7: When does your family plan to buy a car? (Sample size=7,681)

Within six months (to SQs)	2.9%
Within a year (to SQs)	4.7%
Within two years (to SQs)	4.9%
Within three years (to SQs)	4.7%
More than three years hence (to SQs)	5.6%
Plan to buy, but not decided when (to SQs)	25.5%
Don’t have plans to buy	51.7%

Q7SQ1: Does your family plan to buy an Eco Car? (Sample size=3,710)

Plan to buy Eco Car	14.6%
Plan to investigate non-Eco Cars too	50.9%
Don’t plan to buy Eco Car	8.1%
Don’t know yet	26.4%

Q7SQ2: What is important when choosing a car for family use? (Sample size=3,710, multiple answer)

Cost	76.3%
Type (sedan, one-box, sports car, etc	59.0%
Maker	58.2%
Model	56.3%
Low fuel consumption	53.4%
Design	51.9%
Safety	39.5%
Running cost	39.4%
Ride quality	38.0%
Colour	37.3%
Interior space	34.8%
Whether it fits my needs	30.7%
Number of passengers	23.4%
Fits my family situation	19.0%
Hybrid engine	15.5%
Qualifies for eco car tax reduction	11.8%
Percentage of eco car tax reduction	9.6%
Electric vehicle	6.3%
Whether it is popular model	2.4%
Other	1.4%
Nothing in particular	1.1%
Don’t know	1.2%