Japan 2005: Toyota Vitz threatens Corolla, Ractis starts strong

Toyota Vitz

You can see the Top 30 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Lots of new models and changes this year in Japan, even though the Toyota Corolla stays #1 at 149,810 sales (-14%), ranking first 6 times. The new generation Toyota Vitz (aka Yaris) is an immediate hit: it is #1 for its first month of sales in February and holds the pole position for 4 months, peaking at 22,135 sales in March and finishing the year #2 with 131,935 units (+114%).

Toyota Ractis

In 3rd place, the Honda Fit drops 16% at 125,894 units, it was #1 in December only. The fourth model to rank #1 this year doesn’t appear in the 2005 Top 30 because of its late launch: the Toyota Ractis racks up 9,861 sales (#2) for its first month in October, and takes the lead of Japanese sales in November at 11,673 units…

Nissan Note

The Nissan Tiida is #4 with 98,069 sales for its first full year, it was even #2 in January only 35 units below the Corolla! Other excellent performers this year include the Nissan Note, directly #5 for its first year at 93,925 units and peaking at #3 in February, and the new gen Honda StepWGN, #7 overall with 91,745 sales but #2 in June and August just below the Corolla.

You can check out every monthly Top 30 for 2005 here.

Previous year: Japan 2004: Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit and Nissan Cube on podium

Next year: Japan 2006: New generation enables Corolla to keep the lead

Full Top 30 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below the Honda StepWGN pic.

Honda StepWGN