There are doubts about the sales conditions of Toyota’s new Land Cruiser FJ (TRJ240). “Forced trade-in and leftover credit”, which is a hot topic on SNS, may violate the Antimonopoly Act (tie-in sales) | Creative Trend

2026-05-12

The JFTC should have issued a warning about forced sales, leftover credits, etc.

Toyota New Land Cruiser FJ (TRJ240) is scheduled to be announced and released from May 14, 2026.

As a new entry model for the Land Cruiser, it is also known as the “Land Cruiser Mini”, and it is expected that it will become a model that will build the “fashion Land Cruiser” category by expanding not only to the core Land Cruiser fans, but also to new groups such as the Suzuki Jimny Nomade (Suzuki New Jimny Nomade).

In the previous blog, we introduced the specific grade configuration, powertrain, main equipment, body color, and vehicle price of the Land Cruiser FJ.

Regarding such Rankle FJ, some dealers are presenting “purchase conditions”, but it seems that some dealers are presenting conditions that will clearly draw attention from the Fair Trade Council.

Forced trade-ins and contracts based on remaining credits must have been “inappropriate sales methods”…

These are the “necessary conditions” for purchasing the new Land Cruiser FJ, but if you look at the content posted on SNS X…

The Land Cruiser FJ is finally on sale, and it seems that the sales company has decided on its sales method.

The condition is that the car sold at the dealership will be traded in and the residual value will be set.

In short, it’s an existing customer with a trade-in remaining.

#Rankle FJ

The above will be as follows.

This sales method is not a sales method decided by the manufacturer, but seems to be a sales method and conditions set by the retailer of the SNS poster (the sales headquarters of that sales channel?), but as far as I can confirm the contents, it seems that the sales method and conditions are not decided by the manufacturer.Two items fall under “inappropriate sales methods”It turns out that there is also.

in particular“Trade in a car sold at a dealership” and “Setting residual value/signing a contract with residual credit”.

In other words, it is not allowed to sell Toyota vehicles purchased at the relevant dealership at a purchasing agent, and it is also impossible to contract for bulk purchases or bank loans.

By the way, this sales method was established by the Fair Trade Council.“Warning regarding inappropriate sales methods for new cars”The content is so catchy that it makes you wonder, “Have the dealers forgotten the failures of the Alphard/Vellfire/Rankuru 300/Rankuru 250?”

For your reference, the content of the warning posted by the Japan Fair Trade Association is as follows, so please be sure to read the relevant points at the dealership this time.red boldIt is published in.

Regarding inappropriate sales methods for new cars[Warning]

-Purchase of options, etc. is a condition of sale, retention of ownership when selling for cash, etc.-

In order to understand what kinds of troubles occur between business operators and general consumers in the sale of automobiles (four-wheeled and two-wheeled, new and used), and to contribute to the further optimization of labeling and transactions, the Council has set up a consumer consultation desk, accepts complaints and consultations (approx. 5,500 a year), provides advice on troubleshooting, and analyzes the causes and problems.

Under these circumstances, we have recently received complaints from consumers about inappropriate sales of new cars that take a long time to be delivered.

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1. Contents of main complaints (inappropriate sales methods)

1) When purchasing a new car, the following conditions are presented by the sales company:If you do not agree, you cannot sell,orPrioritize sales to consenting consumersI was told.

① “Purchase optional equipment, maintenance packs, coatings, etc.” and “Join optional insurance”“Purchase with loan”

② Even in the case of a cash purchase, ownership will be retained for one year (in the name of the seller).
*Complaints like the ones mentioned in ① and ② above are also occasionally seen regarding used cars.

③Get a trade-in car

2) Order forms were exchanged for sales on a first-come, first-served basis, but the sale was later changed to a lottery sale.

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2. To comply with laws and regulations and to avoid causing consumer distrustAppropriate sales method

1) For the following reasons, dealers should not make the above conditions ① to ③ available for sale when selling new cars. Also, do not sell products preferentially to consumers who have consented to this.

① “Purchase optional equipment, maintenance packs, coatings, etc.” and “Join optional insurance”Forcing “loan purchases” violates antitrust laws.(corresponding to unfair transaction methods (tie-in sales)).

(2) In the case of a cash purchase, ownership should naturally pass to the purchaser, and retaining it to the seller, no matter what the reason, is an infringement of rights.

③It is up to the purchaser to decide whether or not to sell the trade-in vehicle and to whom, including the amount of profit from the sale, etc., and the sales business should not force the vehicle to be stocked.

2) If selling by lottery, display (announcement) to that effect in advance. Also, do not change to lottery sales without prior display (announcement).

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We ask that member businesses refer to this information and conduct appropriate sales from the perspective of legal compliance and ensuring consumer trust.

For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact the Automobile Fair Trade Council Business Division, Automobile Business Department or Consumer Affairs Department at 03-5511-2111.

via:Fair Trade Council

As mentioned above, the aforementioned “trade-in of a Toyota vehicle purchased at a dealer” and the “residual value setting/residual credit” compulsory contract may violate the above-mentioned inappropriate sales method, so if this sales method is true, it will likely be subject to severe criticism following Toyota Mobility Tokyo.

Page 2: Is it okay for retailers to set sales conditions as long as the conditions do not conflict with the above?