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    <title>WATTSHIP Blog — Import Intelligence</title>
    <description>Expert guides on importing vehicles from Japan, reading auction sheets, and optimizing container shipments.</description>
    <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog</link>
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    <language>en-US</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:05:08 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/common-import-mistakes</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/common-import-mistakes</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Nissan and the GT-R Became Legends]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[It started as a Prince sedan and became 'Godzilla' — the car that won 29 straight races. The story of how the Nissan Skyline GT-R became the most legendary JDM car of all.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-nissan-gtr-became-legends</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-nissan-gtr-became-legends</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Nissan Silvia (S13/S14/S15): The Drift King]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Nissan Silvia is to drifting what the AE86 is to touge — the light, rear-drive, SR20DET-powered coupe that made the sport accessible. The S13, S14, and the JDM-only S15, and how to import one.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/nissan-silvia-drift-king</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/nissan-silvia-drift-king</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[15 Things You Didn't Know About Japanese Cars]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[From the loom that became Toyota to the inspection law that keeps JDM cars pristine — 15 genuinely surprising facts about Japanese cars, each one true and sourced.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/15-things-you-didnt-know-japanese-cars</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/15-things-you-didnt-know-japanese-cars</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Check a Used Car's History Before Importing]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-used-car-history-import</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-used-car-history-import</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[STI vs Evo: The Greatest Rally Rivalry]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Boxer vs inline-four. Subaru vs Mitsubishi. The STI and Evo fought on rally stages and in the street for two decades. The history of the rivalry, how they differ, and which to import.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/sti-vs-evo-rivalry</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/sti-vs-evo-rivalry</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Birth of JDM Culture: How Japanese Cars Conquered the World]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[From late-night runs on Japan's mountain passes to a worldwide obsession — how JDM culture spread through drifting, video games, movies, and a US import law.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/birth-of-jdm-culture</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/birth-of-jdm-culture</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Container vs RoRo Shipping: Which to Choose]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[RoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/container-vs-roro-shipping</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/container-vs-roro-shipping</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Honda NSX (NA1): The Everyday Supercar]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Honda built a supercar that could embarrass Ferrari on the track and still start every morning. With Ayrton Senna's input and the first all-aluminum body, the NSX changed what a supercar could be.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/honda-nsx-everyday-supercar</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/honda-nsx-everyday-supercar</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Decode a Japanese Chassis Code (JDM VIN Guide)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A JDM car doesn't have a normal VIN — it has a chassis code, and learning to read it tells you the model, engine, and production number, and helps you spot fraud before you buy.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/decode-japanese-chassis-code</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/decode-japanese-chassis-code</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Why Japan Built Kei Cars: The History of the Tiny-Car Class]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Kei cars aren't tiny by accident. They're tiny by law — a 1949 government class designed to put postwar Japan on wheels. How the rules created one of the world's most distinctive car cultures.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/why-japan-built-kei-cars</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/why-japan-built-kei-cars</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Mazda RX-7 (FD3S): The Rotary Icon]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The FD RX-7 is the purest rotary sports car Mazda ever built — beautiful, light, and powered by an engine unlike anything else on the road. The story, and the one compression test that decides whether to buy.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/mazda-rx7-rotary-icon</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/mazda-rx7-rotary-icon</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/cost-to-import-car-from-japan</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/cost-to-import-car-from-japan</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Story of Honda: From a Bicycle Engine to Formula 1]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Honda started with surplus engines strapped to bicycles in postwar Japan. How a mechanic's obsession with engineering became a company that builds everything from lawnmowers to F1 cars.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/the-story-of-honda</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/the-story-of-honda</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Toyota Supra Mk4 (A80): The 2JZ Legend]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Mk4 Supra's 2JZ engine is one of the most over-engineered motors ever put in a production car — built to handle double its power. The story of the A80 legend, and what to know about importing one.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/toyota-supra-mk4-2jz-legend</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/toyota-supra-mk4-2jz-legend</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Toyota Started: From Looms to the World's Biggest Automaker]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Toyota didn't start with cars. It started with a loom — and a father-and-son story that turned a textile-machinery business into the largest automaker on earth.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-toyota-started</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-toyota-started</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[JDM Legends You Can Finally Import in 2026]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[2001 was a golden era for Japanese performance cars — and in 2026 those legends cross the 25-year line. Here's what becomes eligible, by build month, and what to watch for.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/jdm-legends-import-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/jdm-legends-import-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[EV Home Charging Setup: Costs and Options for 2026]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Home charging is what makes an EV cheap to run. Here's what a setup actually costs in 2026 — Level 1 vs Level 2, hardware, installation, and the tax credit that's about to expire.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-home-charging-setup-costs</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-home-charging-setup-costs</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Buy a Car at a Japanese Auction (Step by Step)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[You can't just walk into a Japanese car auction and bid — they're wholesale trade-only. Here's the real step-by-step process for buying through an export agent in 2026.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-buy-japanese-auction-step-by-step</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-buy-japanese-auction-step-by-step</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>auction_intel</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Best Used EVs to Import in 2026: What to Look For]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Importing a used EV adds variables a domestic purchase doesn't have — charging standards, parts support, battery history. Here's the framework for picking one worth importing in 2026.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/best-used-evs-to-import-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/best-used-evs-to-import-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The 2025 Auto Tariff Explained (and Why Classics Are Exempt)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A 2025 tariff pushed duty on modern imported vehicles to 27.5%. But classics 25 years and older are exempt and still pay the old 2.5%. Here's what that means for what you import.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/2025-auto-tariff-explained</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/2025-auto-tariff-explained</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[EV vs Gas: The Real 5-Year Cost Breakdown (2026)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Forget the slogans. Here's the real five-year cost comparison between an EV and a comparable gas car, using 2026 energy prices — and the conditions that decide which one wins.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-vs-gas-5-year-cost</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-vs-gas-5-year-cost</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Why the 25-Year Rule Exists: The Story Behind the Law]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 25-year rule wasn't designed to torment enthusiasts. It came out of a 1980s gray-market gold rush, a flood of unregulated imports, and the lobbying that followed. Here's the real story.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/why-25-year-rule-exists</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/why-25-year-rule-exists</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Check if a Car Is Legal to Import to Your State]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A car can clear federal customs and still be impossible to register where you live. Here's how to check your state's rules before you spend a dollar.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-car-legal-import-state</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-car-legal-import-state</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Kei Truck Import Guide: Which US States Allow Them in 2026]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Kei truck imports tripled in five years. Which US states actually allow them in 2026, how the 25-year rule applies, and what they really cost to land.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/kei-truck-import-us-states-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/kei-truck-import-us-states-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Container Arbitrage 101: How Smart Importers Save Thousands]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A 40ft container holds more than one vehicle. The difference between paying full freight and splitting it is $2,000–$6,000 per unit. Here's the math.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/container-arbitrage-101</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/container-arbitrage-101</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>logistics</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Import an EV from Japan in 2026 (Complete Step-by-Step)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Japan ships more EVs than any other country. Here's exactly how professionals bring them in — from auction selection to registration in your market.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-import-ev-from-japan-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-import-ev-from-japan-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Japan Auction Sheets Explained: How to Read Grades Like a Pro]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The single document that separates confident importers from expensive mistakes. Every grade, every damage code, and every inspector note — decoded.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/japan-auction-sheets-explained</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/japan-auction-sheets-explained</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>auction_intel</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Check a Used EV's Battery Health Before Buying]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[On a used EV, the battery is the single most valuable — and most uncertain — component. Here's how to check its health before you buy, and what counts as normal in 2026.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-used-ev-battery-health</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/check-used-ev-battery-health</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/25-year-import-rule-explained</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/25-year-import-rule-explained</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Read a Japanese Auction Sheet (2026 Guide)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A Japanese auction sheet is the single most honest document in the used-car world — learn to read it and you judge true condition from across the planet.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-read-japanese-auction-sheet</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/how-to-read-japanese-auction-sheet</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>auction_intel</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[EV Total Cost of Ownership: The Complete 2026 Guide]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sticker price is the smallest part of what a car costs you. This guide breaks down the full five-year total cost of owning an EV in 2026 — and how it compares to gas.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-total-cost-of-ownership-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/ev-total-cost-of-ownership-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Import a Car from Japan in 2026: The Complete Guide]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Importing a car from Japan in 2026: how the auctions work, what landed cost really includes, and how the 25-year rule changes your duty math.]]></description>
      <link>https://wattship.xyz/blog/import-car-from-japan-2026</link>
      <guid>https://wattship.xyz/blog/import-car-from-japan-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>importing</category>
      <author>FLUX Intelligence</author>
    </item>
  
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