Japan Kei cars 2006-2009: Suzuki Wagon R on top

Suzuki Wagon R

The Suzuki Wagon R has been the best selling Kei car in Japan since 2003 and managed to stay above 200,000 sales over the period: 221,066 in 2006, 226,725 in 2007, 205,354 in 2008 and 201,528 in 2009. The Daihatsu Move is #2 the whole time, constantly over 180,000 sales and peaking at 210,425 units in 2007.

In 3rd place during the whole period, the Daihatsu Tanto gains 59% in 2008 with 159,322 sales. The 4th position changes hands every year: it is the Honda Life in 2006 at 105,503 units and in 2008 at 97,126, the Daihatsu Mira in 2007 at 90,500 sales, and the Suzuki Alto in 2009 at 87,386 units.

Daihatsu Tanto

So you will have guessed it, the Kei car market is quite stable, the nameplates are very established and get revamped on a regular basis, with very few entirely new models being introduced. An illustration of this is the fact that only the Nissan Pino (#18 in 2007), Suzuki Palette (#6 in 2008) and Nissan Roox (#7 in December 2009) break into the Top 20 over the period.

Full Top 20 Ranking Tables for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009: click on ‘Read more’ below the Nissan Roox pic.

Nissan Roox