Japan March 2012: Toyota Prius, Aqua & Honda Fit all beat records
Toyota Prius & Prius Alpha
* See the Top 30 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *
Japanese vehicles sales continue on their amazing run in this start of the year, up a huge 72% year-on-year in March to 497,959 registrations (this exclude Kei cars), bringing the year-to-date total to 1,094,439 units, up a massive 52%. This exceptional growth is due to government subsidies for the purchase of green cars but also a lower base from a year ago which is when the devastating tsunami hit the country.
Honda Fit
After beating its monthly record last month with 35,875 sales, the Toyota Prius smashes it again in March, bringing it up to an amazing 45,496 sales, up 131% on March 2011. This figure is possibly the highest monthly sales ever for any model in Japan (or at least in the last 15 years) and corresponds to a very solid 9% market share. Most probably thanks to its hybrid version, the Honda Fit also beats its monthly sales record at 34,161 units, up 53% year-on-year with its previous best being 27,980 last September…
Toyota Aqua
In third place the Toyota Aqua amazes again, up 33% on February to an outstanding 29,156 sales, like last month this could mean it is already the best-selling body style in the country! All Top 30 models are up year-on-year in March with the smallest increase delivered by the Nissan March #16 at +19% and the biggest by the Toyota Sienta #27 at +4739%.
Mazda CX-5
The Toyota Vitz is #4 at +37%, followed by the Honda Freed (+89%), Nissan Serena (+40%) and Note (+128%). Notice also the Subaru Impreza up 276% and 8 spots to #17 with 7,512 sales and the Mazda CX-5 making its very first appearance in the Japanese Top 30 at #29 with 4,640 sales.
Previous post: Japan February 2012 update: Toyota Aqua already #1 seller?
Previous month: Japan February 2012: Toyota Prius at highest ever, Aqua most successful launch in a decade
One year ago: Japan March 2011: Quake induces 37% drop, Honda Fit #1
Full March 2012 Top 30 Ranking Table below.
Japan March 2012:
| Pos | Model | Mar | /11 | Feb | Jan | 2012 | Pos | 2011 |
| 1 | Toyota Prius | 45,496 | 131% | 1 | 1 | 110,479 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Honda Fit | 34,161 | 53% | 2 | 2 | 80,583 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Toyota Aqua | 29,156 | new | 3 | 4 | 64,592 | 3 | - |
| 4 | Toyota Vitz | 19,067 | 37% | 5 | 6 | 38,355 | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | Honda Freed | 16,257 | 89% | 4 | 3 | 43,592 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Nissan Serena | 13,376 | 40% | 6 | 5 | 32,214 | 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Nissan Note | 10,633 | 128% | 9 | 11 | 22,142 | 8 | 13 |
| 8 | Toyota Corolla | 10,193 | 43% | 7 | 10 | 22,127 | 9 | 5 |
| 9 | Toyota Ractis | 9,532 | 72% | 14 | 16 | 18,889 | 13 | 8 |
| 10 | Mazda Demio | 9,123 | 43% | 12 | 9 | 20,356 | 11 | 7 |
| 11 | Toyota Passo | 9,109 | 57% | 13 | 12 | 19,505 | 12 | 9 |
| 12 | Toyota Vellfire | 9,108 | 57% | 8 | 7 | 22,487 | 7 | 23 |
| 13 | Toyota Voxy | 8,698 | 76% | 10 | 8 | 20,881 | 10 | 12 |
| 14 | Nissan Cube | 8,019 | 126% | 15 | 15 | 17,096 | 15 | 17 |
| 15 | Honda StepWGN | 7,931 | 27% | 11 | 13 | 18,278 | 14 | 11 |
| 16 | Nissan March | 7,682 | 19% | 16 | 19 | 15,858 | 16 | 10 |
| 17 | Subaru Impreza | 7,512 | 276% | 25 | 23 | 13,736 | 20 | 28 |
| 18 | Nissan Juke | 6,889 | 149% | 17 | 20 | 14,706 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | Toyota Noah | 6,287 | 67% | 18 | 18 | 14,177 | 19 | 14 |
| 20 | Toyota Alphard | 5,935 | 162% | 19 | 14 | 14,355 | 18 | n/a |
| 21 | Suzuki Swift | 5,845 | 53% | 23 | 27 | 11,720 | 24 | 20 |
| 22 | Toyota Wish | 5,474 | 36% | 20 | 22 | 12,110 | 22 | 16 |
| 23 | Suzuki Solio | 5,460 | 45% | 21 | 17 | 12,565 | 21 | 15 |
| 24 | Nissan Tiida | 5,191 | 97% | 26 | 28 | 10,896 | 26 | 22 |
| 25 | Toyota Estima | 5,155 | 54% | 22 | 21 | 11,966 | 23 | 19 |
| 26 | Nissan X-Trail | 4,937 | 78% | 24 | 25 | 10,963 | 25 | 25 |
| 27 | Toyota Sienta | 4,742 | 4739% | 28 | 26 | 10,353 | 28 | 29 |
| 28 | Toyota Crown | 4,740 | 36% | 27 | 24 | 10,711 | 27 | 21 |
| 29 | Mazda CX-5 | 4,640 | new | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | - |
| 30 | Toyota Isis | 3,916 | 112% | 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Source: www.jada.or.jp
Up 72% percent – amazing! Even if one takes into account 2011 was a traumatic post-tsunami year, a plus of 72% is huge.