Toyota Pays for Cars Smashed in China Riots
By wchung | 03 Apr, 2026

Toyota's China joint venture firms has offered to compensate owners of Toyota vehicles that were vandalized during recent anti-Japan riots.

Toyota’s China joint venture firms have offered to compensate owners of Toyota vehicles that were vandalized during recent anti-Japan riots. The riots were triggered by the nationalization of a chain of small islands administered by Japan and disputed by China.

Repair costs beyond the 70% covered by most insurance policies would be paid for by FAW Toyota Motor Company, the joint venture between Toyota and Chinese First Auto Works, the company announced. It also offered a 50% discount on all repair charges for uninsured Toyota vehicles.

Alternatively, the company is offering a single 20,000 yuan ($3,158) payment for each damaged car traded in for a new one.

Owners of damaged Toyotas were offered similar compensation schemes by GAC Toyota Motors, Toyota’s joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group. GAC also offered Toyota owners a free vehicle appraisal and the use of a courtesy car during repairs.

In order to take advantage of these compensation offers the owners of riot-damaged Toyotas must provide damage report issued by the local public security bureau, insurance policies and other supporting documents.

Sales of Japanese-branded cars have been falling in China since July and plunged 15% in August, the month in which anti-Japan demonstrations began erupting, according to FAW Toyota Motors dealership in Beijing and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.