The Toyota RAV4 reaches its best ranking in over 3 years.

In the all important month of March marking the end of the Financial Year and filled with promotions, new vehicle sales in Japan edge down -1.8% year-on-year to 490,640. This means the year-to-date tally is now down -2.5% to 1,253,357. Toyota (-6.4%) suffers and falls to 27.7% share vs. 29.4% so far this year. The Top 7 is unchanged on last month with Suzuki (+0.5%) stable at #2 followed by Honda (-8.2%) in difficulty. Like last month Daihatsu (+24.3%) and Mitsubishi (+30.1%) are in great shape. Nissan (-0.1%) is stable while Mazda (-6.5%) recedes. Below, large YoY increases are rare with BYD up 88.8% to #24, Alfa Romeo up 143.1% to #28, Lamborghini up 62% to #29 and Hyundai up 137.3% to #30. None of these carmakers surpass 0.1% share though.

In regular models ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-17.4%) remains on top while the Toyota Corolla/Cross (-21.5%) is back above the Toyota Sienta (-7.7%) for 2nd place. The Honda Freed (-1.6%) and Toyota Raize (+43.9%) exchange rankings vs. last month to #4 and #5 respectively. The Honda Vezel (+16.8%) and Toyota Voxy (+16.6%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. The Toyota RAV4 (+193.4%) is pushed up to #12 thanks to the new generation, the nameplate’s highest ranking since February 2023 (#12 also). The Suzuki Jimny Wagon (+67.8%) also makes itself noticed. The Toyota bZ4X (+9027%) seems to have finally found its groove at home and reaches a record #26, just as the Nissan Leaf (+583.2%) is boosted by the new model to #29, the nameplate’s best ranking since September 2021 (#28).

The new generation Nissan Leaf cracks the Top 30 in March.

As for kei cars, four of them outsell the Toyota Yaris/Cross, reiterating the significant footprint this segment commands. The Honda N-BOX (-9.7%) and Suzuki Spacia (-2.6%) dominate but are both down, whereas the next five models grow by the double digits. The Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+54.1%), Daihatsu Move (+53.4%) and Nissan Roox (+40.8%) are the most dynamic. The Top 12 is identical to the Q1 order. Finally, looking at foreign models, the Mini lineup (-6%) sells over twice as much as the next car, the VW T-Cross (-24.7%). The VW Golf (-49.1%) implodes and rounds out the podium above a surging Mercedes GLB (+29.5%). The Mercedes C-Class (+12.4%) and BMW 2 Series (+6.9%) also progress below, with the Porsche Macan signing its first ever Top 20 finish, landing directly at #12.

Previous month: Japan February 2026: Daihatsu (+18.5%), Mitsubishi (+14.3%) impress

One year ago: Japan March 2025: Sales continue recovery at +10.7%

Full March 2026 Top 50 brands, Top 50 regular models, Top 31 All kei cars and Top 20 foreign models below.

Japan March 2026 – brands:

PosBrandMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Toyota136,13927.7%– 6.4%1368,90029.4%– 6.1%112Suzuki72,53314.8%+ 0.5%2197,09415.7%– 2.0%223Honda70,03714.3%– 8.2%3173,86413.9%– 5.5%334Daihatsu62,49112.7%+ 24.3%4156,78712.5%+ 18.2%445Nissan52,37410.7%– 0.1%5129,04510.3%– 3.2%556Mazda18,5573.8%– 6.5%643,5013.5%– 11.7%667Mitsubishi16,4193.3%+ 30.1%738,1213.0%+ 14.8%778Isuzu9,9172.0%+ 7.2%921,9521.8%+ 5.6%9109Subaru8,9541.8%– 32.6%825,0682.0%– 21.6%8810Lexus6,0621.2%– 32.0%1018,6031.5%– 13.0%10911Mercedes5,2491.1%– 11.6%1111,7920.9%– 9.3%111112Hino4,0390.8%– 8.5%129,7130.8%– 10.6%121313Mitsubishi Fuso3,9940.8%+ 15.4%139,1240.7%+ 21.6%131414BMW3,7280.8%– 17.5%147,2730.6%– 18.8%141215Volkswagen3,1270.6%– 29.4%156,5670.5%– 33.5%151516Audi2,4880.5%– 1.2%165,1570.4%– 2.0%161617Mini2,2690.5%– 1.5%174,4790.4%– 6.0%171718UD Trucks1,7160.3%– 3.8%183,6170.3%+ 0.4%181819Volvo1,5340.3%+ 5.9%203,1210.2%+ 2.2%191920Land Rover9800.2%– 7.2%212,0070.2%– 25.0%212221Porsche9630.2%– 32.5%192,8520.2%– 12.5%202022Jeep7930.2%– 17.1%241,5650.1%– 31.5%222123Peugeot6540.1%– 16.9%221,5490.1%– 6.2%232324BYD6250.1%+ 88.8%231,2710.1%+ 110.1%242525Renault5330.1%– 1.1%259960.1%– 2.4%252726Citroen4300.1%+ 8.3%277480.1%– 3.1%272627Fiat3630.1%– 3.5%267600.1%– 15.5%262428Alfa Romeo2480.1%+ 143.1%285020.0%+ 124.1%282829Lamborghini1490.0%+ 62.0%302790.0%+ 32.9%313130Hyundai1210.0%+ 137.3%312910.0%+ 120.5%303031Ferrari990.0%– 33.6%293330.0%– 0.6%292932Maserati810.0%– 39.6%351520.0%– 30.6%323233Bentley730.0%+ 19.7%361250.0%+ 14.7%353734Scania620.0%– 8.8%341320.0%– 3.6%343435Chevrolet540.0%+ 22.7%371210.0%+ 23.5%364136Aston Martin430.0%+ 2.4%381010.0%+ 3.1%383937Cadillac380.0%– 46.5%42690.0%– 53.7%393638Alpina300.0%– 23.1%321370.0%+ 98.6%333839Jaguar240.0%– 79.1%49250.0%– 84.6%444440Abarth230.0%– 82.0%39680.0%– 78.9%403341DS230.0%– 61.0%41530.0%– 60.2%414042Ford180.0%+ 5.9%40520.0%+ 20.9%424343Rolls-Royce160.0%– 48.4%331110.0%+ 11.0%373544McLaren90.0%– 65.4%43390.0%– 50.0%434245Lotus80.0%– 57.9%44180.0%– 78.6%454546GMC30.0%+ 200.0%4840.0%+ 0.0%484847Dodge20.0%– 81.8%4580.0%– 71.4%464648Chrysler10.0%– 50.0%4730.0%+ 0.0%495249Morgan10.0%+ 0.0% –10.0%– 50.0%5151 –Others 2,5460.5%+ 101.4% –5,1970.4%+ 136.9% – –

Japan March 2026 – regular cars:

PosModelMar-26/25Feb2026/25PosFY251Toyota Yaris/Cross13,607– 17.4%136,079– 24.8%112Toyota Corolla/Cross12,835– 21.5%331,752– 28.9%223Toyota Sienta11,674– 7.7%231,589– 3.6%334Honda Freed10,932– 1.6%526,487– 4.1%565Toyota Raize10,646+ 43.9%428,611+ 29.0%446Honda Vezel9,519+ 16.8%1122,273+ 14.1%7137Nissan Note9,169– 8.4%1021,724– 17.7%8108Toyota Voxy8,580+ 16.6%623,966+ 19.5%699Toyota Noah8,075– 5.0%921,403– 1.9%10810Nissan Serena7,794– 17.9%821,281– 9.0%111111Toyota Aqua7,738– 18.8%1418,602– 21.0%131212Toyota RAV47,513+ 193.4%1913,170+ 86.0%202513Toyota Alphard6,462– 21.5%1220,528– 21.4%12714Honda Fit6,367– 9.2%2013,687– 8.2%181915Toyota Roomy6,336– 15.3%721,478– 0.3%9516Suzuki Jimny Wagon6,151+ 67.8%1318,367+ 119.3%142117Toyota Harrier5,964– 16.7%1515,825– 14.9%161818Honda StepWGN5,804– 16.1%1615,833– 2.7%151519Suzuki Solio5,528+ 9.6%1714,482– 10.9%171720Toyota Prius5,228– 46.3%1813,650– 47.1%191421Toyota Crown4,287– 27.2%2211,822– 25.5%211622Honda ZR-V3,823+ 40.9%346,272– 14.7%323223Mitsubishi Delica D53,699+ 34.1%219,150+ 27.9%232924Mazda CX-53,617+ 3.5%258,830+ 3.5%242825Mazda23,530+ 19.4%287,006– 3.2%273026Toyota bZ4X3,377+ 9027.0%307,098+ 8250.6%26n/a27Nissan X-Trail3,114+ 10.9%276,841– 3.7%283428Toyota Vellfire2,922+ 0.3%268,629– 2.1%252229Nissan Leaf2,514+ 583.2%415,065+ 347.0%35n/a30Suzuki Xbee2,348+ 139.8%296,626+ 123.9%303831Subaru Impreza2,253– 37.6%316,775– 25.8%292432Subaru Forester2,203– 41.0%246,503– 19.6%312333Daihatsu Rocky2,182+ 50.5%355,300+ 18.0%343734Suzuki Swift2,091– 23.0%325,440– 29.1%332635Toyota Land Cruiser W1,917– 51.3%239,350– 25.6%222036Lexus NX350H1,828– 24.7%364,679– 30.4%363337Mazda CX-301,664– 8.2%393,968– 13.5%404038Lexus LBX1,614– 31.6%374,551– 21.4%383139Mazda31,459– 4.3%40n/an/an/a4140Honda WR-V1,374– 71.9%334,657– 57.4%372741Mazda CX-601,298– 23.1%502,735n/a454242Subaru Levorg1,289– 36.7%433,415– 25.5%413943Honda Civic1,151– 60.0%384,035– 35.1%393644Mazda MX-5 (Roadster)1,109– 34.3%442,837n/a434345Mitsubishi Outlander1,095– 2.8%452,774n/a444846Suzuki Fronx1,027– 60.7%423,208– 41.9%423547Honda CR-V944n/an/an/an/an/an/a48Toyota Hiace W848+ 40.2%47n/an/an/a4649Subaru Rex825+ 255.6%n/an/an/an/an/a50Daihatsu Thor781+ 13.0%46n/an/an/an/a

Japan March 2026 – kei cars:

PosModelMar-26/25Feb2026/25PosFY251Honda N-BOX21,342– 9.7%156,383– 4.2%112Suzuki Spacia16,039– 2.6%244,528– 5.4%223Daihatsu Move14,690+ 53.4%336,623+ 40.8%344Daihatsu Tanto14,393+ 19.8%435,877– 1.4%435Nissan Roox11,768+ 40.8%530,619+ 39.0%576Suzuki Hustler9,225+ 10.1%624,249– 1.8%657Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK8,353+ 54.1%819,171+ 36.9%788Suzuki WagonR6,792+ 0.6%717,335– 10.8%869Daihatsu Mira6,432+ 9.4%1015,493+ 0.1%91010Nissan Dayz5,433+ 4.4%913,793– 0.2%101311Suzuki Alto5,235+ 4.1%1113,698– 14.4%11912Daihatsu Taft4,932– 14.2%1212,575– 22.9%121213Honda N-WGN2,906– 9.3%146,785– 8.2%141414Suzuki Jimny2,683– 47.8%138,096– 43.5%131115Suzuki Every Wagon2,094– 0.3%155,580+ 2.0%151516Mazda Flair Wagon1,799+ 5.6%174,537– 1.2%171817Honda N-ONE1,672– 0.1%164,796+ 24.2%161618Nissan Sakura959– 52.2%182,381– 60.7%181719Toyota Pixis902+ 15.6%192,254+ 8.9%191920Nissan Clipper Rio852+ 21.7%212,037+ 0.6%212121Mazda Flair Crossover765+ 2.7%221,785– 14.6%222022Daihatsu Copen664+ 83.4%202,088+ 90.0%202223Subaru Stella492n/a231,776n/a232524Mazda Flair  425+ 145.7%251,106+ 59.1%252625Mazda Carol401+ 27.3%241,161+ 21.3%242426Subaru Chiffon327– 37.5%28696– 56.7%262327Subaru Pleo176– 38.5%26586– 21.2%272728Mazda Scrum Wagon109– 14.2%30263– 28.5%292929Mitsubishi eK Cross EV104– 24.1%27403– 37.7%282830Toyota Copen GR Sport86– 21.1%29262+ 14.4%303031Mitsubishi Town Box67– 34.3%31139– 26.5%3131

Japan March 2026 – foreign models:

PosModelQ1 2026/24Q4FY251Mini4,479– 6.0%112VW T-Cross2,070– 24.7%533VW Golf1,904– 49.1%324Mercedes GLB1,633+ 29.5%675Mercedes G-Class1,618– 13.1%766Mercedes GLC1,560– 17.9%247Audi A31,449– 5.0%458Mercedes C-Class1,196+ 12.4%15129Volvo S/V/XC601,145– 10.0%121310BMW 2 Series1,100+ 6.9%10911Mercedes GLA1,027– 7.8%131412Porsche Macan1,026n/an/an/a13BMW X31,008– 1.2%81014BMW 1 Series1,006– 33.9%161115BMW X1972– 12.6%9816Audi A5950+ 83.4%141717Land Rover Defender 110932– 23.1%n/a1818VW T-Roc894n/an/a2119Volvo XC40883– 19.7%171920Mercedes E-Class830– 39.9%2016

Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA