Japan April 2014: Toyota Voxy on podium, Honda Fit #1 in 2014, Honda Vezel up to best-ever #6

Toyota Voxy

* See the Top 30 models & Top 13 local brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Stephen *

An increase in Japan’s national sales tax took effect on April 1 and analysts predict Q2 2014 new car sales in the country will be down 18% as a result. For now, April is down only 11% as carmakers were still delivering orders accumulated during the winter. Nevertheless April marks the first year-on-year drop in 8 months and the weakest monthly volume in 16 months at 188,864 units. The year-to-date total is still up 12% for now to 1,298,525 registrations. There is lots of movement in the Japanese models ranking once again in April. Thanks to sales up 70% year-on-year to 15,621 units, the Honda Fit ranks 1st for the 5th time in the last 6 months and passes the Toyota Aqua year-to-date establish itself in the top spot in 2014 so far with 92,714 units vs. 91,687.

The Honda Fit is now #1 year-to-date in Japan.

Exceptional performance of the new generation Toyota Voxy, up 3 spots on March to break onto the monthly podium for what should be the first time in the nameplate’s career with 9,271 sales, up 264% on April 2013. The Toyota Prius is kicked down to #4, its worst monthly ranking in Japan in 6 years and now threatened by the one it toppled from decades-long domination: the Toyota Corolla! This month the Prius is at 8,692 sales (-53%) and the Corolla at 8,255 (+39%).

Honda Vezel

The Honda Vezel is up 6 ranks on March to land in 6th place with 7,959 sales, the best ranking of its short career so far. But wait there’s more: the Toyota Noah is up a further two spots on March to #7, the Nissan X-Trail up one to reclaim a spot in the Top 10 at #10, the Toyota Harrier up 4 to #11, a new all-time high ranking for the nameplate. Finally the Toyota Land Cruiser/Prado makes a very rare appearance inside the Top 30 at #29 with 1,291 sales.

Previous month: Japan March 2014: Toyota Voxy one in 7 models to break all-time records

One year ago: Japan April 2013: Toyota Prius back on top

Full April 2014 Top 30 models and Top 13 All-local brands Ranking Tables below.