Japan June 2014: Toyota Aqua back to #1, Honda Vezel up to #4

Honda Vezel

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 30 best-selling models and Top 13 brands! *

Regular passenger vehicles sales in Japan are down slightly from 2013 (-1.8%) to 229,037 registrations but still up year-to-date (+7.2%) at 1,554,597 units. This month the Toyota Aqua puts an end to 3 consecutive months of Honda Fit domination (and 7 out of the last 8 months) by selling 19,812 units (-2%) vs. 16,066 (+32%) which also enables it to reclaim the year-to-date leadership with 123,637 sales vs. 121,764 for the Fit. The Toyota Prius remains in third place with 13,557 units, a harsh 38% year-on-year decline. The hero of the month is once again the Honda Vezel, breaking the 10,000 monthly sales benchmark for the first time at 11,680 and breaking into the monthly Top 5 at #4. Where will Honda’s small SUV stop? These scores are already way above what its competitor the Nissan Juke ever achieved at home.

Subaru Levorg

The Toyota Voxy (+184%), Corolla (+58%), Vitz (+40%), Noah (+103%) and Passo (+49%) all lodge impressive gains, while the Toyota Harrier maintains itself at unheard-of heights in 13th place with 4,880 sales and the Mazda Axela (aka Mazda3) is up one spot on May to #14 with 3,709 units, up 242% on June 2013. The Nissan X-Trail is back up 3 ranks on last month and 107% year-on-year to #15 and we welcome a new nameplate inside the Japanese Top 30 this month: the Subaru Levorg lands at #23 with 2,133 sales for its 2nd month in market, adding up to 2,771 so far. This already makes the Levorg Subaru’s 2nd best-seller at home below the Impreza (#20) and above the Forester (#30).

Previous month: Japan May 2014: Honda Vezel and Toyota Harrier shine again

One year ago: Japan June 2013: Toyota Prius passes Aqua year-to-date

Full June 2014 Top 30 models and Top 13 brands Ranking Tables below.