The Lexus LBX is already up to #42 for its first full month of sales.

The Japanese new vehicle market starts the year in difficult fashion with January sales down -12.4% to 334,838. The negative result is partly due to the safety test falsification scandal at Daihatsu which paused shipments in late December and completely shut down production for the entire month of January. As a result Daihatsu sales are down -62.6% in January to just 6% share vs. 12.4% over the Full Year 2023. The strong earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture also temporarily affected operations at some local manufacturers, including Toyota. Toyota sales are down -15.1% as it is now also affected by a test data rigging scandal at an affiliated diesel engine supplier. Mazda (-33.8%) is also hit hard whereas Honda (+18.6%), Nissan (+4.6%) and Suzuki (+1.7%) power ahead.

In the regular car models ranking, the Toyota Corolla/Cross (-13.7%) takes the lead for the first time since December 2022, overstepping the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-18.4%). The Sienta (-11.1%) and Prius (+166%) ensure the Top 4 is entirely composed of Toyotas, with the latter boosted by its new generation. The Nissan Note (-13.9%) is the best of the rest at #5 ahead of a surging Honda Vezel (+155.7%). The Nissan Serena (+83.1%), Toyota Alphard (+31.7%) and Harrier (+19.3%) also impress below. Further down, notice the Toyota Vellfire (+2351.5%), Lexus RX350 (+213.8%), Toyota JPN Taxi (+197.9%), Subaru Levorg (+108.5%) and Nissan X-Trail (+103.9%). The new Lexus LBX breaks into the Top 50 for its first full month of sales at #42.

Looking at kei mini vehicles, the Honda N-BOX (-11.9%) is still by far the best-seller ahead of the Suzuki Spacia (+11.1%) and Hustler (+14.4%). The Nissan Roox (-12.7%), Suzuki Wagon R (-16.4%) and Alto (-4.2%) all struggle below whereas the Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+136.8%) and Nissan Dayz (+123.5%) shoot up. Daihatsu models sink: the Tanto is off -66.2 to #8, the Mira down -46.4% to #11, the Move down -74.5% to #12 and the Taft off -57.5% to #15.

Previous post: Japan Full Year 2023: Honda N-BOX and Toyota Yaris on top again, Toyota places 8 models in Top 9

One year ago: Japan January 2023: Toyota up to 32.4% share in very dynamic market (+16%)

Full January 2024 Top 48 All brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 All kei cars below.

Japan January 2024 – brands:

PosBrandJan-24%/23DecFY231Toyota105,18331.4%– 15.1%112Suzuki56,71016.9%+ 1.7%323Honda53,40315.9%+ 18.6%244Nissan41,04112.3%+ 4.6%555Daihatsu20,2436.0%– 62.6%436Mazda10,4773.1%– 33.8%767Mitsubishi8,9542.7%+ 10.5%888Subaru8,6412.6%– 4.1%679Lexus7,2382.2%+ 15.2%11910Isuzu4,1051.2%– 0.4%101011Mercedes3,3491.0%– 9.4%91112Hino2,5470.8%– 3.6%161213Mitsubishi Fuso2,0150.6%+ 2.6%131314Volkswagen1,7200.5%– 3.6%141515BMW1,5370.5%– 0.7%121416Audi1,1420.3%– 42.0%151617Mini1,0750.3%+ 7.6%171718Porsche7620.2%+ 51.2%232319Land Rover6270.2%+ 23.9%192120Volvo5940.2%– 33.0%181821UD Trucks5130.2%– 24.3%212022Renault4440.1%– 27.0%252423Jeep4430.1%– 41.9%201924Peugeot3030.1%– 61.5%222225Fiat2540.1%– 22.8%242626BYD2170.1%+ 486.5%272927Citroen1480.0%– 58.3%262528Maserati930.0%+ 82.4%282729Abarth830.0%+ 18.6%293030Alfa Romeo750.0%– 36.4%302831Ferrari740.0%– 17.8%333132Jaguar740.0%– 21.3%343533Hyundai710.0%+ 121.9%353834Lamborghini450.0%+ 45.2%323635DS330.0%+ 26.9%363236Rolls-Royce330.0%+ 83.3%424337Alpina310.0%+ 520.0%414138Cadillac300.0%– 41.2%373739Aston Martin290.0%– 3.3%393940Chevrolet290.0%– 46.3%383341Scania290.0%+ 61.1%404042Lotus270.0%+ 440.0%434543Bentley190.0%– 42.4%313444McLaren150.0%– 16.7%454645Dodge90.0%– 50.0%464446Ford80.0%– 55.6%444247Morgan20.0%– 50.0%514848GMC10.0%– 66.7%4747 –Others 3430.1%+ 614.6% – –

Japan January 2024 – regular cars:

PosModelJan-24/23DecFY231Toyota Corolla/Cross12,484– 13.7%222Toyota Yaris/Cross12,056– 18.4%113Toyota Sienta9,810– 11.1%334Toyota Prius8,550+ 166.0%565Nissan Note8,502– 13.9%946Honda Vezel7,458+ 155.7%6147Toyota Alphard6,777+ 31.7%12178Nissan Serena6,428+ 83.1%8119Toyota Harrier5,819+ 19.3%131210Honda Freed5,487– 5.5%71011Toyota Noah5,216– 24.0%14712Honda StepWGN5,197+ 68.8%151913Honda Fit5,047+ 26.4%161514Toyota Crown5,042+ 12.1%172015Toyota Voxy5,006– 29.2%18816Suzuki Solio4,498– 4.4%221817Toyota Aqua4,001– 43.9%11918Honda ZR-V3,741n/a20n/a19Toyota Land Cruiser W3,395– 16.3%231620Subaru Levorg3,380+ 108.5%213621Toyota Roomy3,245– 57.7%4522Toyota Vellfire3,236+ 2351.5%28n/a23Suzuki Swift3,164+ 61.6%242524Nissan X-Trail3,093+ 103.9%252425Toyota Raize2,312– 48.0%101326Toyota RAV42,269– 52.2%262127Subaru Impreza2,124+ 29.7%192228Suzuki Jimny Wagon1,883– 20.3%272629Mazda21,618– 19.3%333130Lexus NX350H1,555– 4.4%352331Nissan Kicks1,314+ 66.8%343532Subaru Forester1,311– 43.9%313033Mitsubishi Delica D51,303– 17.1%363334Suzuki Xbee1,096– 10.7%424035Mazda CX-51,082– 24.2%302836Mazda MX-5 (Roadster)1,041+ 58.2%n/an/a37Honda Odyssey1,018+ 0.0%29n/a38Toyota JPN Taxi998+ 197.9%41n/a39Toyota Hiace W952– 11.4%404240Honda Civic918– 11.4%474141Mazda CX-30893– 45.4%373242Lexus LBX849newn/an/a43Lexus RX350816+ 213.8%n/an/a44Mazda3800– 38.2%383845Toyota 86728+ 4.3%434646Daihatsu Rocky575– 64.5%443747Mitsubishi Outlander556– 67.0%393948Lexus RX500H546+ 34.8%n/a4749Subaru Legacy537– 28.2%50n/a50Lexus RX350H530n/an/an/a

Japan January 2024 – kei cars:

PosModelJan-24/23DecFY231Honda N-BOX17,446– 11.9%112Suzuki Spacia11,316+ 11.1%333Suzuki Hustler8,211+ 14.4%454Nissan Roox6,943– 12.7%575Suzuki WagonR5,983– 16.4%966Suzuki Alto5,225– 4.2%1187Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK5,170+ 136.8%10118Daihatsu Tanto4,849– 66.2%229Nissan Dayz4,644+ 123.5%121310Honda N-WGN2,837– 23.1%141411Daihatsu Mira2,625– 46.4%6912Daihatsu Move2,611– 74.5%8413Suzuki Jimny2,474– 9.7%131214Nissan Sakura2,314– 45.1%151515Daihatsu Taft2,035– 57.5%71016Honda N-ONE1,582+ 24.7%161617Suzuki Every Wagon1,537– 22.0%171718Mazda Flair Wagon1,314+ 15.0%241819Mazda Flair Crossover622+ 24.2%192220Nissan NV100 Clipper Rio554+ 14.7%212321Toyota Pixis423– 39.8%181922Mazda Carol359+ 15.1%272423Mazda Flair  323– 11.0%222724Mitsubishi eK Cross EV274– 68.3%232125Subaru Chiffon132– 67.1%202526Daihatsu Copen101– 80.6%252627Subaru Pleo100– 45.7%262828Mazda Scrum Wagon97– 28.7%293129Toyota Copen GR Sport85– 28.0%283030Mitsubishi Town Box40+ 21.2%313231Toyota C+POD37+ 105.6%303332Daihatsu Cast1– 99.9%322033Honda S6601– 50.0% –3434Subaru Stella0– 100.0%332935Daihatsu Wake0– 100.0% –35

Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA