Issue #15 · 5, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
Published October 5, 2026
Japanese Auto News
USS auction data through November shows consigned vehicles reached 2.33 million units with an average winning price of ¥1.233 million, up 1.5% from prior year. Contract completion rate held at 66.3% despite increased inventory, signaling sustained export demand even as domestic supply expands.
September update notes auction selection expanding but warns freight volatility continues—Gulf-linked routes saw spot rates climb 70–120% since May. Weak yen benefits dollar buyers but pulls competing demand into Japan, keeping hammer prices elevated despite supply gains.
Honda announced it will not compress development timelines despite competitive pressure from Chinese manufacturers. The decision signals potential build-quality improvements for import buyers, though new models aren't expected at Japanese auctions until Q1 2027.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0063
USD · as of Oct 5, 2026
Live rate as of Oct 5, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
25-Year Imports Still Exempt: 12.5% Total Duty
— Trade Update25-Year Imports Still Exempt: 12.5% Total Duty
Vehicles qualifying under the 25-year exemption remain excluded from the Section 232 tariff under HTS heading 9903.94.04. Total duty for a 25-year-eligible JDM import is 12.5%—the 2.5% base passenger-car rate plus the Section 301 cap that replaced the expired Section 122 surcharge in July. Modern Japanese cars (under 25 years) pay 15% under the US-Japan framework agreement. Kei trucks still carry the 25% chicken tax regardless of age, with no additional Section 232 stack.
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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 →
October 2001 Production Now Eligible
October 2026 marks 25 years since October 2001 production. Not model year—manufacture date. That's the distinction that matters at the port, and it's why cars stamped 10/2001 clear customs now while a December build of the same model doesn't. NHTSA counts from the door jamb, not the VIN prefix. If you're shopping auctions this month, verify the build plate before you bid.
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (R34) (BNR34)
Final evolution of the RB26DETT with revised turbo mapping and the ATTESA E-TS Pro system. October 2001 builds represent some of the last naturally-aspirated GT-Rs before Nissan pivoted to the VQ platform. Cultural weight and engineering refinement in equal measure.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)
First CT9A chassis Evo, switching from the old 4G63 to the revised version with active center diff and a titanium turbine. Homologation special for WRC. Lighter, sharper, and more responsive than the VI—the Evo that actually made the rally car street-legal rather than the other way around.
Honda Integra Type R (DC5) (DC5)
The K20A debut: 8,600 rpm redline, 220 PS from 2.0 liters, and Honda's i-VTEC doing what VTEC couldn't—flat torque and top-end scream in the same package. The last front-drive Type R before the hot-hatch pivot. Still the benchmark.
Verify the Build Plate, Not the Model Year
Eligibility hinges on the month and year of manufacture, stamped on the door jamb compliance plate—not the model year designation in the VIN or auction sheet. A 2001 model year car built in December 2000 has been eligible since December 2025. A 2001 model built in March 2001 clears in March 2026.
- →Request a photo of the door jamb plate before you bid—month and year must both be visible
- →October 2001 builds clear now; November 2001 builds clear next month
- →Auction sheets list model year, not manufacture date—verify separately with the exporter
- →CBP determines eligibility from the compliance plate, not the title or auction grade
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