Daihatsu sales are back up 240.3% in March.

The Japanese new vehicle market once again benefits from a low year-ago comparison base as sales were impacted by production disruptions. This month sales are up 10.7% to 499,745 units, which is however a relatively soft result as March 2024 was down -21.1%. March is always the strongest month of the year as carmakers rush to register cars before the end of the Financial Year. The Q1 2025 tally is up 13.6% to 1,285,351. Toyota soars 16.2% to 29.1% share, yet this is lower than the 30.6% it commands over Q1. Honda (+4.1%) is discreet at #2 whereas Suzuki (-13%) and Nissan (-11.5%) underperform. Daihatsu (+240.3%) recovers but drops to #5 year-to-date, passed by Nissan. Isuzu (+37.6%), Mazda (+23.1%) and Subaru (+22.9%) all excel in the remainder of the Top 10. Mercedes (+1%) tops foreign manufacturers as usual at #11, distancing BMW (+5.6%), Volkswagen (+56.8%) and Audi (-20.3%).

Looking at the regular car ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-6.8%) and Corolla/Cross (-13.2%) keep the lead but slow down. The Toyota Sienta (+39.2%) surges ahead at #3 and is once again the best-selling single nameplate. The Honda Freed (+16.5%) is also solid at #4 while the Nissan Note (-21.4%), in difficulty, ensures the Top 5 is identical to February and YTD. The Toyota Aqua (+96.5%), Alphard (+27.3%) and Noah (+13.9%) also beat the market below. The Toyota Roomy (+1052.1%) and Raize (+294.8%) catch up on lost year-ago time. Notice also the Nissan Fairlady Z (+600.4%) advancing to a record #39 for its 2nd ever month inside the Japanese Top 50.

As for kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (+16%), Suzuki Spacia (-7.9%) and Daihatsu Tanto (+1123.2%) are undisturbed while the Daihatsu Move (+1329.7%) passes the Suzuki Hustler (-21.1%) for #4. The Daihatsu Taft (+969.8%) and to a much lesser extent the Daihatsu Mira (+92.1%) also recover. In the foreign models Q1 ranking, the Mini lineup (+15.5%) ranks #1 above the VW Golf (+29%) and T-Cross (+159.9%) with the Mercedes GLC (+5.8%) and G Class (+52.5%) rounding out the Top 5. The Porsche 911 (+16.9%) points its bonnet at #19.

Previous month: Japan February 2025: Market bounces back up 18.7%

One year ago: Japan March 2024: Toyota (-36%), Daihatsu (-78.1%) pull market down -21.1%

Full March 2025 Top 55 All brands, Top 50 regular models, Top 30 All kei cars and Q1 Top 20 foreign models below.

Japan March 2025 – brands:

PosBrandMar-25%/24Feb2025%/24PosFY241Toyota145,40629.1%+ 16.2%1392,74530.6%+ 20.2%112Honda76,32615.3%+ 4.1%3184,05514.3%+ 0.1%333Suzuki72,18514.4%– 13.0%2201,03815.6%– 2.0%224Nissan52,42310.5%– 11.5%5133,33710.4%– 9.8%445Daihatsu50,28510.1%+ 240.3%4132,59010.3%+ 195.8%556Mazda19,8374.0%+ 23.1%649,2843.8%+ 24.9%667Subaru13,2822.7%+ 22.9%731,9572.5%+ 19.9%888Mitsubishi12,6182.5%– 16.3%833,1932.6%– 5.7%779Isuzu9,2501.9%+ 37.6%920,7791.6%+ 29.0%101010Lexus8,9151.8%– 3.0%1021,3731.7%– 10.4%9911Mercedes5,9391.2%+ 1.0%1112,9951.0%– 3.2%111112BMW4,5180.9%+ 5.6%148,9580.7%+ 17.1%141313Volkswagen4,4300.9%+ 56.8%139,8750.8%+ 41.1%131514Hino4,4150.9%– 5.6%1210,8610.8%+ 4.0%121215Mitsubishi Fuso3,4610.7%– 8.0%157,5020.6%– 9.5%151416Audi2,5170.5%– 20.3%175,2640.4%– 16.5%161617Mini2,3040.5%+ 16.5%164,7650.4%+ 15.5%171718UD Trucks1,7840.4%+ 32.1%193,6020.3%+ 40.0%181919Volvo1,4490.3%– 26.2%203,0540.2%– 13.4%201820Porsche1,4260.3%+ 49.9%183,2580.3%+ 28.8%192121Land Rover1,0560.2%– 9.5%212,6760.2%+ 7.3%212222Jeep9560.2%– 12.5%222,2860.2%+ 4.0%222023Peugeot7870.2%+ 9.2%231,6520.1%+ 9.4%232324Renault5390.1%– 39.2%251,0200.1%– 48.0%242425Citroen3970.1%– 2.2%277720.1%– 4.6%262626Fiat3760.1%– 25.0%248990.1%– 15.1%252527BYD3310.1%– 9.8%266050.0%– 21.1%272728Ferrari1490.0%+ 1.4%283350.0%– 4.8%282929Maserati1340.0%– 10.1%322190.0%– 35.2%313030Abarth1280.0%– 39.9%293230.0%– 21.6%292831Jaguar1150.0%+ 85.5%431620.0%– 21.0%333532Alfa Romeo1020.0%– 36.3%312240.0%– 26.1%303133Lamborghini920.0%+ 17.9%302100.0%+ 12.3%323234Cadillac710.0%+ 12.7%331490.0%+ 14.6%344035Scania680.0%+ 30.8%381370.0%+ 34.3%353836Bentley610.0%+ 1.7%351090.0%– 14.2%383637DS590.0%– 3.3%371330.0%+ 0.0%363938Hyundai510.0%– 28.2%341320.0%– 48.2%373339Chevrolet440.0%– 52.7%39980.0%– 41.3%413440Aston Martin420.0%+ 40.0%41980.0%+ 16.7%403741Alpina390.0%– 23.5%44690.0%– 44.8%444142Rolls-Royce310.0%– 8.8%361000.0%+ 12.4%394243McLaren260.0%+ 44.4%42780.0%+ 85.7%434444Lotus190.0%– 38.7%40840.0%+ 7.7%424345Ford170.0%– 10.5%45430.0%+ 7.5%454546Dodge110.0%+ 10.0%46280.0%– 6.7%464647MG20.0%n/a5140.0%n/a495348Chrysler20.0%n/a  –30.0%+ 200.0%515149Pontiac10.0%n/a4750.0%+ 400.0%474950GMC10.0%– 50.0%4840.0%+ 0.0%484751Morgan10.0%– 50.0%  –20.0%– 50.0%534852Unimog10.0%+ 0.0%  –20.0%+ 100.0%545453RUF10.0%n/a  –10.0%n/a555854Opel10.0%n/a  –10.0%n/a566155Lancia10.0%n/a4940.0%n/a5050 –Others 1,2640.3%+ 85.6%  –2,1940.2%+ 54.5%  –  –

Japan March 2025 – regular models:

PosModelMar-25/24Feb2025/24PosFY241Toyota Yaris/Cross16,483– 6.8%147,985+ 13.6%122Toyota Corolla/Cross16,353– 13.2%244,649– 3.3%213Toyota Sienta12,644+ 39.2%332,783+ 19.2%334Honda Freed11,107+ 16.5%427,630+ 24.5%455Nissan Note10,011– 21.4%526,411– 15.5%546Toyota Prius9,744– 13.9%825,783– 11.3%767Toyota Aqua9,527+ 96.5%1023,532+ 82.9%8148Nissan Serena9,497+ 0.1%1223,378+ 3.8%979Toyota Noah8,496+ 13.9%1121,810+ 16.6%111110Toyota Alphard8,230+ 27.3%626,130+ 49.0%6811Honda Vezel8,149– 8.0%1519,529– 18.1%14912Toyota Roomy7,477+ 1052.1%921,535+ 337.6%121213Toyota Raize7,399+ 294.8%722,187+ 320.4%102014Toyota Voxy7,357+ 4.2%1320,063+ 11.9%131015Toyota Harrier7,156– 5.3%1418,596– 2.6%151316Honda Fit7,013– 4.7%1914,912– 17.5%191617Honda StepWGN6,921– 18.5%1616,276– 17.3%161718Toyota Crown5,889– 20.8%1815,858– 12.3%181519Suzuki Solio5,044– 24.0%1716,257+ 0.5%171820Honda WR-V4,892+ 123.9%2310,921+ 399.8%212721Toyota Land Cruiser W3,934+ 111.4%2012,566+ 85.9%201922Subaru Forester3,732+ 88.5%258,087+ 66.0%262923Suzuki Jimny Wagon3,666+ 10.1%278,375+ 6.5%252824Subaru Impreza3,609+ 8.1%229,135+ 15.5%222525Mazda CX-53,494+ 52.2%248,533+ 73.7%243426Mazda22,956+ 136.3%337,235+ 81.6%293127Toyota Vellfire2,912– 7.9%218,813+ 3.8%232328Honda Civic2,874+ 47.2%396,220+ 34.2%343629Nissan X-Trail2,807– 46.8%327,106– 43.6%312430Mitsubishi Delica D52,759+ 15.7%307,154+ 36.6%303331Suzuki Swift2,715– 37.8%267,678– 27.6%272232Honda ZR-V2,714– 44.9%287,354– 41.2%282133Suzuki Fronx2,610new385,525new36n/a34Toyota RAV42,561– 18.2%297,082– 9.6%322635Lexus NX350H2,429+ 116.7%346,722+ 80.8%333536Lexus LBX2,360– 2.1%355,787+ 12.0%353237Subaru Levorg2,036– 39.6%374,584– 48.7%383038Mazda CX-301,813+ 5.7%364,587+ 16.3%373839Nissan Fairlady Z1,793+ 600.4%47n/an/an/an/a40Mazda CX-601,689+ 99.2%31n/an/an/a5041Mazda MX-5 (Roadster)1,688+ 25.2%n/an/an/an/a4342Mazda CX-801,594new424,199new40n/a43Mazda31,525+ 0.3%413,983+ 18.1%414144Subaru Legacy1,451+ 118.9%433,800+ 138.1%42n/a45Daihatsu Rocky1,450+ 462.0%404,492+ 296.8%394246Nissan Kicks1,292– 34.5%443,541– 28.2%433747Mitsubishi Outlander1,126+ 39.2%n/an/an/an/a4548Honda Odyssey1,045– 19.7%462,856– 18.5%454049Suzuki Xbee979– 39.3%452,959– 24.3%443950Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross953– 15.6%n/an/an/an/a48

Japan March 2025 – kei cars:

PosModelMar-25/24Feb2025/24PosFY241Honda N-BOX23,627+ 16.0%158,844+ 8.3%112Suzuki Spacia16,463– 7.9%247,063+ 6.4%223Daihatsu Tanto12,012+ 1123.2%336,393+ 366.9%334Daihatsu Move9,579+ 1329.7%526,003+ 479.4%4115Suzuki Hustler8,379– 21.1%424,692– 11.2%546Nissan Roox8,360– 6.1%622,022– 7.2%667Suzuki WagonR6,753– 30.8%719,426– 16.8%758Daihatsu Mira5,877+ 92.1%1015,478+ 110.7%10109Daihatsu Taft5,745+ 969.8%916,301+ 365.5%81310Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK5,421– 33.7%1214,008– 27.6%12811Nissan Dayz5,206– 16.8%1313,826– 16.4%13912Suzuki Jimny5,141+ 15.9%1114,327+ 34.3%111213Suzuki Alto5,027– 38.2%816,011– 17.8%9714Honda N-WGN3,204– 4.0%147,393– 19.1%141415Suzuki Every Wagon2,100+ 32.5%165,468+ 33.8%161616Nissan Sakura2,008– 37.8%156,057– 25.7%151517Mazda Flair Wagon1,704– 14.1%174,591– 4.5%171818Honda N-ONE1,673+ 6.8%183,863– 20.2%181719Toyota Pixis780– 1.8%192,070+ 48.6%202120Mazda Flair Crossover745– 25.4%212,091– 10.1%191921Nissan Clipper Rio700+ 24.6%202,025+ 16.2%212022Subaru Chiffon523+ 1767.9%221,608+ 669.4%222323Daihatsu Copen362+ 5071.4%241,099+ 793.5%232524Mazda Carol315– 22.4%23957– 12.0%242225Subaru Pleo286+ 40.9%26744+ 112.6%252726Mazda Flair  173– 58.6%27695– 33.4%262427Mitsubishi eK Cross EV137– 52.9%25647– 26.5%272628Mazda Scrum Wagon127+ 30.9%28368+ 22.7%282829Toyota Copen GR Sport109+ 2080.0%29229+ 131.3%292930Mitsubishi Town Box102+ 78.9%30189+ 40.0%3030

Japan Q1 2025 – foreign models:

PosModelQ1 2025/23Q4FY241Mini4,764+ 15.5%112VW Golf3,740+ 29.0%n/a33VW T-Cross2,750+ 159.9%3114Mercedes GLC1,901+ 5.8%225Mercedes G-Class1,861+ 52.5%1176Audi A31,525– 1.7%n/a197BMW 1 Series1,521+ 17.6%15188Mercedes E-Class1,381+ 23.5%499Volvo S/V/XC601,272+ 2.9%141010Mercedes GLB1,261– 27.9%9411Land Rover Defender 1101,212– 14.5%n/an/a12Mercedes GLA1,114+ 19.5%191513BMW X11,112n/a61614Volvo XC401,099+ 8.7%131415Mercedes C-Class1,064– 38.3%5516BMW 2 Series1,029– 36.3%161317BMW X31,020n/an/an/a18VW Polo1,012+ 6.3%101719Porsche 911921+ 16.9%n/an/a20BMW 3 Series898n/a86

Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA