Ford withdraws from Japan and Indonesia

Automaker Ford will close all operations in Japan and Indonesia as there was "no reasonable path to profitability" in both markets, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

In 2015, the US auto giant sold just a mere 6,100 cars and trucks in Indonesia, and 5,000 in Japan, accounting for just 0.1% of the Japanese market and just 0.6% of Indonesian car sales.

Ford’s decision comes after General Motors said it would pull out of Indonesia. Both companies along with other automakers have criticised Asian governments for protective policies that favour domestic brands over imported cars.

In a statement, spokesperson for Ford said, "Japan is the most closed, developed auto economy in the world, with all imported brands accounting for less than 6% of Japan's annual new car market."

The 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement “in its current form” would not improve Ford's ability to compete in both markets, he added.

The company has 44 dealerships in Japan and employs 292 workers in the country, along with an additional 35 works in Indonesia.