The Honda Vezel hits its highest ranking in almost 10 years.

New vehicle sales in Japan slow down their fall in April at -11.2% year-on-year to 310,346 units. Sales of regular cars are down -5.7% to 207,536 while kei car registrations plunge another -20.7% to 102,810. The year-to-date volume is now down -16.7% to 1,441,486. Once again sales are pulled down by the safety test falsification scandal at Daihatsu which completely shut down production at the start of the year.  Toyota (-14.7%) suffers but sees its share hit 32.4% vs. 29.6% so far this year. Suzuki (+15.5%) and Honda (+37.1%) defy the market gloom with splendid year-on-year gains. Mitsubishi (+37.8%) also impresses in the remainder of the Top 10 while Isuzu (+3.6%) manages a small lift. Daihatsu (-67.8%) is in freefall again as is Mazda (-31%). Further down the charts, notice Porsche (+75.2%), Alfa Romeo (+65.1%) and Maserati (+55.1%) all in great shape.

In the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-2.7%) reclaims the top spot for the first time this year while the Toyota Corolla/Cross falls to #2 but sports a solid year-on-year gain. The Toyota Sienta (+12.4%), Honda Vezel (+159.4%) and Toyota Alphard (+64.6%) all score fantastic gains to round out the Top 5. It is the highest ranking in almost 10 years (since June 2014) for the Vezel nameplate. All remaining Top 10 members fall by double-digits. Below, the Toyota Vellfire (+8550%), Honda ZR-V (+604.9%) and StepWGN (+114.1%) stand out. 

Looking at kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (-0.3%) is stable while the next six models manage year-on-year gains. The Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+359.2%) is by far the most dynamic, followed by the Suzuki Hustler (+85.3%), Wagon R (+26.3%), Spacia (+25.1%), Nissan Roox (+7%) and Suzuki Alto (+1.8%).

Previous month: Japan March 2024: Toyota, Daihatsu pull market down -21.1%

One year ago: Japan April 2023: New generation lifts Prius to highest in 3.5 years

Full April 2024 Top 52 All brands, Top 50 regular models and Top 34 All kei cars below.

Japan April 2024 – brands:

PosBrandApr-24%/23Mar2024%/23PosFY231Toyota100,50532.4%– 14.7%1427,35929.6%– 26.8%112Suzuki55,85418.0%+ 15.5%2260,96118.1%+ 13.6%223Honda50,14316.2%+ 37.1%3234,00716.2%+ 14.9%344Nissan30,0679.7%– 9.0%4177,91512.3%+ 0.4%455Daihatsu16,7015.4%– 67.8%761,5324.3%– 73.0%536Mazda10,0873.3%– 31.0%549,5433.4%– 31.1%667Mitsubishi8,2102.6%+ 37.8%643,4213.0%+ 26.9%788Lexus7,4222.4%– 1.5%931,2792.2%– 12.3%999Subaru6,4082.1%– 16.3%833,0692.3%– 8.7%8710Isuzu4,0881.3%+ 3.6%1020,1901.4%– 12.3%101011Mercedes3,2121.0%– 9.7%1116,6411.2%– 0.3%111112Mitsubishi Fuso3,0871.0%+ 11.6%1411,3810.8%– 0.9%131313Hino3,0431.0%+ 9.7%1213,4890.9%– 1.6%121214BMW1,8110.6%– 28.8%139,4580.7%– 13.8%141415Volkswagen1,6890.5%+ 13.8%168,6900.6%+ 6.9%151516Audi1,5850.5%+ 16.3%157,8890.5%– 0.6%161617Mini1,0180.3%– 16.4%175,1440.4%– 11.8%171718Volvo8750.3%– 3.8%184,4000.3%– 14.6%181819Jeep6760.2%– 40.5%212,8740.2%– 29.7%221920Porsche6150.2%+ 75.2%223,1450.2%+ 30.1%192321UD Trucks5080.2%– 26.9%193,0800.2%– 8.6%202022Land Rover4920.2%– 31.2%202,9860.2%+ 8.5%212123Peugeot3410.1%– 43.2%241,8510.1%– 40.7%242224Renault2830.1%– 20.3%232,2460.2%– 22.1%232425Fiat2760.1%– 12.4%251,3350.1%– 6.2%252626Citroen2130.1%– 37.4%261,0220.1%– 50.9%262527Ferrari1180.0%+ 15.7%314700.0%+ 6.3%293128Abarth950.0%– 12.8%285070.0%+ 26.8%283029Maserati760.0%+ 55.1%304140.0%+ 32.7%302730Alfa Romeo710.0%+ 65.1%293740.0%– 29.3%312831BYD670.0%– 26.4%278340.1%+ 143.1%272932Chevrolet610.0%+ 5.2%322280.0%– 18.6%343333Aston Martin500.0%+ 56.3%431340.0%– 10.1%413934Lamborghini480.0%+ 860.0%332350.0%+ 44.2%333635Scania410.0%+ 70.8%391430.0%+ 31.2%404036Rolls-Royce410.0%+ 192.9%411300.0%+ 71.1%424337Hyundai390.0%+ 95.0%342940.0%+ 61.5%323838DS350.0%– 22.2%371680.0%– 25.7%363239Alpina350.0%+ 150.0%401600.0%+ 171.2%374140Bentley300.0%– 41.2%381570.0%+ 3.3%383441Lotus290.0%+ 866.7%421070.0%+ 1088.9%434542McLaren260.0%+ 44.4%45680.0%+ 19.3%444643Jaguar220.0%– 56.0%362270.0%– 10.3%353544Ford210.0%– 22.2%44610.0%– 41.9%454245Cadillac180.0%– 48.6%351480.0%– 37.3%393746Dodge90.0%– 30.8%46390.0%– 57.1%464447GMC30.0%+ 200.0%4770.0%+ 0.0%474748Buick20.0%n/a5030.0%– 40.0%495449Morgan10.0%– 80.0%4850.0%– 64.3%484850Smart10.0%n/a4920.0%n/a506051Unimog10.0%n/a5120.0%– 50.0%515352Chrysler10.0%n/a  –20.0%– 50.0%5251  –Others 1960.1%– 40.1%  –1,6160.1%– 10.1%  – –

Japan April 2024 – regular cars:

PosModelApr-24/23Mar2024/23PosFY231Toyota Yaris/Cross13,765– 2.7%255,993– 16.4%212Toyota Corolla/Cross12,969+ 21.6%159,125– 3.5%123Toyota Sienta10,337+ 12.4%737,842– 18.3%334Honda Vezel7,752+ 159.4%831,585+ 96.9%6145Toyota Alphard6,704+ 64.6%1624,246+ 9.0%11176Nissan Note6,013– 16.8%337,256– 15.3%447Toyota Voxy5,716– 12.0%1423,645– 28.4%1388Nissan Serena5,694– 12.5%628,206+ 41.7%7119Toyota Noah5,454– 22.3%1124,154– 27.6%12710Toyota Harrier5,278– 24.6%1024,371– 20.8%101211Honda StepWGN5,023+ 114.1%924,709+ 116.7%91912Honda Fit4,944+ 38.8%1323,023+ 3.8%141513Toyota Aqua4,632– 16.8%1917,495– 45.0%17914Honda Freed4,535– 15.1%526,725– 12.1%81015Toyota Prius4,452– 43.2%433,508+ 17.2%5616Toyota Crown4,342+ 39.2%1222,431+ 35.9%152017Suzuki Solio4,185+ 11.6%1520,354+ 1.8%161818Toyota Raize3,756– 34.4%339,034– 59.4%261319Honda ZR-V3,179+ 604.9%1815,678+ 3376.3%18n/a20Toyota Vellfire3,114+ 8550.0%2411,601+ 2311.9%21n/a21Suzuki Swift2,949+ 41.4%2013,553+ 39.8%202522Toyota RAV42,652+ 14.0%2510,485– 49.9%222123Nissan X-Trail2,387+ 40.7%1714,976+ 59.9%192424Honda WR-V2,238new294,423new40 –25Mazda22,153+ 24.7%416,138– 23.7%313126Suzuki Jimny Wagon1,926– 7.2%239,788+ 8.5%242627Lexus LBX1,857new267,022new28n/a28Subaru Impreza1,795– 20.6%229,707– 4.5%252229Toyota Land Cruiser W1,586– 65.1%348,347– 62.3%271630Subaru Forester1,580+ 26.6%306,452– 11.5%293031Subaru Levorg1,498+ 42.0%2110,429+ 105.1%233632Toyota Roomy1,331– 83.0%n/a5,603– 84.8%35533Mazda CX-51,162– 57.7%286,075– 37.8%322834Honda Civic1,094+ 45.7%325,730+ 8.1%344135Lexus NX350H1,074– 60.2%434,791– 61.7%382336Mitsubishi Delica D51,045– 24.5%276,284– 7.8%303337Nissan Kicks1,019– 8.2%315,953+ 22.2%333538Suzuki Xbee928+ 4.6%364,836– 7.2%364039Mazda3861– 29.4%374,233– 25.1%423840Mazda MX-5 (Roadster)857+ 55.8%394,516+ 41.4%39n/a41Mazda CX-30855– 25.3%354,799– 35.7%373242Toyota Hiace W822+ 0.2%n/an/an/an/a4243Honda Odyssey817n/a404,320+ 232.1%41n/a44Lexus RX500H737– 23.6%452,834n/an/a4745Lexus UX300H609newn/an/anewn/a –46Lexus RX350547+ 48.6%482,879+ 50.7%n/an/a47Mazda CX-3474+ 51.9%38n/an/an/an/a48Mazda CX-60473– 77.5%47n/an/an/a2949Honda Accord416+ 1500.0%44n/an/an/an/a50Subaru Legacy401– 41.0%n/an/an/an/an/a

Japan April 2024 – kei cars:

PosModelApr-24/23Mar2024/23PosFY231Honda N-BOX14,947– 0.3%169,295– 15.7%112Suzuki Spacia12,532+ 25.1%256,783+ 31.6%233Suzuki Hustler7,507+ 85.3%335,326+ 59.6%354Suzuki WagonR6,129+ 26.3%429,473+ 9.0%465Suzuki Alto5,949+ 1.8%725,432+ 0.7%686Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK4,992+ 359.2%624,343+ 183.6%7117Nissan Roox3,902+ 7.0%527,632– 10.7%578Daihatsu Mira3,360– 39.4%1210,706– 51.8%1199Suzuki Jimny3,095– 5.3%913,761+ 6.0%91210Nissan Dayz2,795+ 31.0%819,332+ 61.4%81311Honda N-WGN2,091– 6.9%1011,226– 28.5%101412Daihatsu Tanto1,866– 84.4%179,660– 82.2%12213Suzuki Every Wagon1,397+ 5.2%145,484– 26.4%161714Honda N-ONE1,276– 7.3%156,116– 5.2%141615Mazda Flair Wagon1,058+ 6.5%135,865+ 31.8%151816Nissan Sakura910– 61.6%119,061– 33.3%131517Mazda Flair Crossover612+ 82.1%162,938+ 67.4%192218Daihatsu Taft596– 88.1%214,098– 82.4%181019Toyota Pixis465– 54.6%181,858– 47.6%211920Nissan NV100 Clipper Rio398+ 10.9%202,140+ 14.1%202321Mazda Carol306– 37.8%231,393– 18.7%222422Daihatsu Move225– 97.8%194,713– 89.0%17423Mazda Flair  204– 39.6%221,248– 17.7%232724Subaru Chiffon147– 61.4%28356– 76.3%272525Subaru Pleo106– 32.9%25456– 45.7%252826Mazda Scrum Wagon91– 14.2%26391– 10.5%263127Mitsubishi eK Cross EV67– 87.4%24947– 76.4%242128Daihatsu Copen27– 93.6%30150– 92.6%292629Toyota C+POD27+ 80.0%29113+ 0.0%313330Mitsubishi Town Box26– 43.5%27161– 6.4%283231Toyota Copen GR Sport17– 87.5%31116– 79.5%303032Honda Vamos1n/a –1n/a34 –33Daihatsu Cast0– 100.0%322– 100.0%322034Honda S6600– 100.0% –1– 75.0%3334

Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA