Few Rush To Buy Targeted Cars

Luxurious Japanese automobiles sat on display without admirers Tuesday on the marblefloored Infiniti showroom in this Detroit suburb.

At dealerships across the country, there was no rush of buyers, despite the U.S. threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on 13 Japanese luxury car models.

Customers and dealers waited to see what would happen half a world away in Geneva, Switzerland, where American and Japanese negotiators attempted to resolve their trade dispute.

Some Japanese import dealers said they had a surge of sales in May, after the tariff deadline was announced. But most said customers have stayed away this month.

“Sales are lagging,” said Karan Frieden, sales manager at Fields Infiniti in Glenview, Ill. “People are saying they’re afraid parts might not be available or they won’t be able to get the cars serviced.”