Japan Kei cars April 2012: Honda NBOX takes the lead!
Honda NBOX Custom (kinda looks like a warped Toyota Land Cruiser don’t you think?)
* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *
The Kei car market once again behaves like the passenger car one this month, up 96% to 150,654 registrations due to the comparison with a record low in April 2011 when the market was devastated by the after-effects of the tsunami. The year-to-date total stands at 743,653 units, up 48% on 2011. Big surprise this month: for the first time ever, the Honda NBOX takes the lead of the rankings only 5 months after its launch, up 4 spots on March to 16,928 sales! These sales also include the Custom version pictured above, and this would be the first time ever a Honda leads the Kei car ranking!
Honda NBOX
The NBOX interrupted 6 consecutive months of leadership of the Daihatsu Mira, kicked down to #2 with 15,542 units, still up a massive 304% year-on-year thanks to the arrival of the e:s version. The Mira is #1 year-to-date with 87,081 sales, up 261% year-on-year. Rounding up the podium again is the Daihatsu Tanto at 13,486 units, up 119% on April, followed by the Suzuki Wagon R down 2 spots on March and the Daihatsu Move down 1.
Previous month: Japan Kei cars March 2012: Daihatsu Mira just under 30,000 sales
One year ago: Japan Kei cars April 2011: Subaru stops, places Stella in Top 10
Full April 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.
Japan Kei cars April 2012:
| Pos | Model | Apr | /11 | Mar | 2012 | /11 | Pos | 2011 |
| 1 | Honda NBOX | 16,928 | new | 5 | 61,397 | new | 4 | 31 |
| 2 | Daihatsu Mira | 15,542 | 304% | 1 | 87,081 | 261% | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Daihatsu Tanto | 13,486 | 119% | 3 | 61,673 | 40% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Suzuki WagonR | 12,229 | 54% | 2 | 68,780 | 36% | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | Daihatsu Move | 12,087 | 62% | 4 | 58,469 | 7% | 5 | 2 |
| 6 | Suzuki Alto | 10,161 | 122% | 6 | 44,123 | 54% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Nissan Moco | 6,217 | 112% | 7 | 28,463 | 32% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Suzuki Palette | 5,480 | 139% | 9 | 25,986 | 61% | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Nissan Roox | 4,534 | 131% | 10 | 20,871 | 20% | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Suzuki MR Wagon | 3,998 | 156% | 12 | 14,025 | 28% | 11 | 11 |
| 11 | Honda Life | 3,958 | -17% | 8 | 23,168 | -14% | 9 | 6 |
| 12 | Suzuki Every Wagon | 1,923 | 76% | 16 | 7,976 | 28% | 16 | 14 |
| 13 | Mitsubishi eK | 1,890 | 26% | 11 | 12,038 | -4% | 12 | 10 |
| 14 | Mazda AZ Wagon | 1,334 | -20% | 13 | 9,999 | 22% | 13 | 13 |
| 15 | Suzuki Jimny | 1,053 | 41% | 17 | 5,328 | 26% | 17 | 17 |
| 16 | Subaru Stella | 999 | -52% | 15 | 8,250 | -14% | 15 | 12 |
| 17 | Mitsubishi Pajero Mini | 899 | 66% | 21 | 3,495 | 11% | 21 | 21 |
| 18 | Mazda Carol | 866 | 62% | 20 | 4,510 | 22% | 19 | 19 |
| 19 | Daihatsu Atrai | 848 | 136% | 19 | 4,383 | 23% | 20 | 18 |
| 20 | Honda Zest | 843 | -21% | 18 | 5,118 | -39% | 18 | 15 |
Source: www.zenkeijikyo.or.jp
The situation in Japan is just different to the one in other countries. Many people just need a car which is big inside and small ouitside. For some clients the NBOX seems to be the right solution.
hello there. I think that this Honda NBOX car is not that good looking in front,but maybe its what in the inside that buyers liked about this car so much.
so, so ugly!!!! Jesus!