Japan Kei cars August 2014: Suzuki Hustler in Top 5 again

Suzuki Hustler

* See the Top 33 models and Top 8 brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Stephen*

Sales of new Kei cars in Japan are down a harsh 15% year-on-year in August to 126,865 registrations, however the year-to-date total is still up by a healthy 9% on 2013 to 1,536,446 units. There are a few explanations to this steep fall: first the recent tax increase that pushes car prices up, but also some specific circumstances this month: Western Japan was hit by a super typhoon at the beginning of the month followed by record rainfall a couple weeks later that triggered fatal mudslides in Hiroshima and disrupted business, especially for kei cars as they are especially popular in these regions. The Daihatsu Tanto holds onto the top spot, completely bucking the trend with sales up 43% on August 2013 to 11,979 units, while the Suzuki Wagon R is back up 4 spots to #2, kicking the Nissan Dayz down to #3. Below the Honda N-BOX down 44% in 4th place, the Suzuki Hustler lodges another very impressive month at #5, missing the 10,000 monthly sales-mark for just 100 units and helping lift Suzuki to #1 Kei car brand once again at 42,923 sales and 33.8% vs. 35,454 and 27.9% for Daihatsu. Suzuki now trails Daihatsu by less than 6,000 units year-to-date and should overtake it to become #1 next month at the current rate.

Previous month: Japan Kei cars July 2014: Suzuki Hustler hits records

One year ago: Japan Kei cars August 2013: Honda N-Box back to pole position

Full August 2014 Top 33 All-models and Top 8 All-brands Ranking Tables below.