JAPAN → YOUR MARKET
Build a vehicle partnership with DERA.
You know your market. We know Japan. We bring Japan-side sourcing and export experience together with your local import, registration and sales experience.
Read how the programme works before creating an account. Start with a short business profile, then complete the later stages as they open to you.
Already have an account? Go to sign-in ↓
01 / IS THIS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
An established business in your market.
We are looking for businesses that already import, prepare, register and sell Japan-origin vehicles. You should understand your local customers, the rules that apply to your vehicles and the providers needed to get them ready for sale.
Current application markets: United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Ireland. Each market and vehicle is reviewed separately. An open application form is not confirmation that a particular vehicle can legally be imported or registered there.
Your first visit is just an introduction.
Create your account, complete five short business-profile screens and send the profile when you are ready. No transaction documents or lawyer agreement are required at this first stage. You can save and return later using the same account.
02 / WHAT YOU WILL NEED LATER
Show us the work your business has completed.
Before qualification for this vehicle programme, we require evidence of 10 comparable completed Japan-origin vehicle transactions within the previous 24 months. This shows that your business can take a vehicle through the full local process, through to a completed sale.
For each example, connect the original chassis number—the vehicle's identifying number—across these records:
- Purchase of the vehicle.
- Shipping and import into your market.
- Ownership and road registration.
- Completed retail sale.
- Your business's role in that transaction.
Several pages in one file can establish the chain. If a broker or compliance provider handled a step, explain their role and yours. Alternative documents may support the same facts, but incomplete evidence does not waive the ten-transaction requirement. Staff may ask for clarification or corrections.
How to prepare documents safely
Redact unnecessary customer names, home addresses, signatures, identity numbers and bank details. Keep the chassis number, relevant dates, document type, jurisdiction, restrictions and evidence of your business's role readable. Do not submit passwords, payment-card details or unredacted government identity documents.
Use the requested upload step after your initial profile receipt. The current evidence upload accepts PDF, JPG and PNG files, up to 20 MiB per file, 10 files per bundle and 200 MiB total per bundle. Follow the limits shown in the application.
Read the privacy notice before supplying information. Your application records and messages require account access; they are not part of this public programme page.
03 / RESPONSIBILITIES AND COSTS
Agree the numbers before committing.
DERA: the Japan side
DERA sources vehicles and coordinates agreed Japan-side preparation, export work and shipping within the approved programme and budget.
You: your local market
You provide local market knowledge, arrange the agreed destination work and providers, fund the agreed destination-side costs, and prepare, register and sell the vehicles to local customers.
The initial vehicle programme is subject to both of these DERA funding ceilings:
These limits cover the agreed costs through destination-port arrival, including vehicle purchase, approved Japan work, export, ocean freight and internal contingency. They are not purchase-price-only budgets. Shared costs count once; unused contingency is not an expense. The initial programme is one container per partner. Another container requires a separate decision.
Under the signed vehicle-programme agreement, agreed documented expenses are reconciled first. Remaining positive vehicle-programme profit is divided 50/50 between DERA and the partner. Funding ceilings are not a promise of funding, stock, profit or acceptance.
Port costs, additional goods and other product types
Agree responsibility for unloading, discharge, terminal charges and other destination costs in writing. Arrival at port does not by itself determine ownership or transfer of risk. Marketing costs, losses and any shortfall must be addressed in the agreement.
Separately agreed engines, transmissions, parts or other additional goods are 100% partner-funded, including all associated costs, and outside the vehicle funding and profit pool. They depend on available container space, weight, safe loading and applicable import requirements. Use your providers or a separately agreed DERA quote; cleared advance payment is required before paid work begins, with any required top-up before proceeding. A request does not reserve space or place an order.
The vehicle programme does not automatically extend to motorcycles, heavy trucks, agricultural machinery or other products. Any different arrangement needs its own explicit review and agreement.
04 / FROM INTRODUCTION TO SETTLEMENT
One step at a time.
You do not need to complete all of this in one visit. This is the partnership process; your workspace shows the steps currently open to you. DERA guides later arrangements after the relevant reviews and agreements.
Introduce your business
Sign in or create an account, then complete the five short profile screens. Use Save and continue or Save and leave and wait for confirmation. On the review screen, select Send initial profile and look for your receipt. An account or saved draft alone does not send your application.
Provide qualification evidence
After the profile receipt, follow the application instructions to prepare the ten completed transaction examples. DERA reviews them and may ask for more information. An upload or receipt is not qualification or partnership approval.
Prepare your market and vehicle plan
After qualification, tell us the vehicle types you would like DERA to consider: models, years and other preferences, local demand, expected selling prices, destination costs and estimated time to sell. Your market knowledge helps us assess what could work.
Review fit and economics together
DERA reviews the proposed vehicles, eligibility, costs and assumptions with you. A plan remains a proposal; it does not order a vehicle, allocate stock or secure funding.
Prepare the local-lawyer agreement
Later, when DERA requests it, arrange a lawyer qualified in your destination country to prepare or review the agreement. The lawyer should understand the local rules and process. DERA reviews the terms; all required signatures and conditions must be complete before commercial commitments. This contract is not required for your initial profile.
Approve specific vehicles before purchase
You and DERA must each approve the exact proposed vehicles and their economics before purchase. A completed application, qualification decision or general market plan does not authorize a purchase.
Ship and complete destination work
Following the required approvals, DERA coordinates the agreed Japan-side sourcing, preparation, export and shipping. You arrange agreed destination customs, inspections, local preparation and registration. Each shipment needs its applicable evidence and arrangements.
Record the sale and settle
Document the completed retail sale, actual expenses and payments received. Submit the supporting records requested by DERA. The parties reconcile the figures and complete payment and settlement under the signed agreement. Uploading payment evidence is not confirmation that funds have cleared.
Applying does not guarantee qualification, financing, vehicle allocation, an agreement or permission to trade. Each later stage has its own requirements.
Ready to introduce your business?
Use the sign-in section below. Start small, save confirmed progress and return with the same account. If you need help understanding the programme, contact DERA.
PARTNER SIGN-IN
Checking your sign-in…
Please wait while we confirm your DERA member session.
First visit? Create your DERA member account and complete any email verification requested by Wix. Then continue to the application. Returning? Sign in with the same account you used for your saved application.
Already entering an application in another tab? Keep it open. After sign-in succeeds, return there and select Check my sign-in to continue with those entries. Check sign-in again on this page checks your account access; it does not submit your work.
The controls above check your sign-in. They do not save, upload or submit an application.
What happens after sign-in?
- Start with your short business profile.
Continue to the application and complete five short profile screens. Use Save and continue to move forward, or Save and leave to return later with the same account. Wait for the saved confirmation. Creating an account does not send a profile.
- Send your initial profile when ready.
On the review screen, check your answers and select Send initial profile. Look for the receipt. The next step tells you when you can prepare qualification evidence. Staff qualification and the market-and-vehicle plan come later. You do not need to finish those stages or prepare a lawyer’s agreement in your first sitting. A receipt is not partnership approval.
- Return to your workspace.
Open the Partner portal to read the current status, see requested information and, after submitting, use private application messages. Follow-up uploads and corrections are completed in the application.