Issue #10 · 31, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
Published August 31, 2026
Japanese Auto News
Japanese automakers reported nearly $28 billion in combined costs from US tariffs, EV write-downs, and emissions rule changes in the fiscal year ending March 2026, with another $14 billion forecast before March 2027.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0062
USD · as of Aug 31, 2026
Live rate as of Aug 31, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
Section 232 Autos: 25-Year Imports Remain Exempt
— Trade UpdateSection 232 Autos: 25-Year Imports Remain Exempt
Despite the ongoing tariff environment affecting newer Japanese vehicle imports, NHTSA-eligible 25-year imports continue to be exempt from Section 232 increased duty regimes. That exemption remains in effect as of late August, meaning classic JDM imports still avoid the steep tariff burden hitting current-model-year vehicles from Japan. Verify duty rates with your broker before shipping, but the 25-year door is still open.
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Landed cost estimates include shipping (~$1,500), US customs duty (27.5%), broker fees, and port handling. Actual costs vary. Use the calculator for your exact numbers →
August 2001: Crossing the Line
If you've been watching an August 2001 build date slip past your importer, this is your month. The 25-year clock doesn't care about model year — it cares about manufacture date, stamped on the door jamb. A car built in August 2001 becomes eligible in August 2026, not January. That three-sentence explanation has cost more than one buyer a Customs hold and a return shipment to Japan. August brings the RX-7 FD Bathurst edition, late DC5 Integra Type Rs with running changes, and the tail end of Evo VII production. These aren't theoretically eligible — they're shippable today.
Honda Integra Type R DC5 (DC5)
K20A red-top engine revving to 8,400 rpm, helical LSD, Brembo 4-piston fronts, close-ratio 6-speed that never made it to the USDM RSX Type-S. This is the FWD benchmark the US market never got.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)
First true Evo available under the 25-year rule. 4G63 turbo four, active center diff, and the ACD system that set the template for every performance Evo after. Rally homologation in a production shell.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C (GDB)
Stripped-out homologation variant with revised suspension geometry, shorter gearing, and lighter curb weight than the standard STI. Built for tarmac rally and track use, not for creature comforts.
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