Japan November 2012: Aqua #1, Subaru Forester at best-ever #15

Subaru Forester

* See the Top 30 best-selling models and Top 13 All-brands ranking by clicking on the title *

The Japanese new car market continues to perform better than expected after government incentives expired in September. Some analysts predicted a 20% year-on-year drop, but sales of regular cars (ex-Kei) are down just 3% in November to 243,974 registrations, which brings the year-to-date total to 3,175,845 units, still up a very sizeable 29% on 2011. This month Subaru is up a huge 145% to #4 brand in the country, passing Mazda and Suzuki, Toyota is up 1% to reach a round and impressive 50% market share, but Nissan is at -12% and Honda at -40%.

Toyota Aqua

After topping the overall monthly ranking for the very first time in October, the Toyota Aqua confirms this month and stays #1 with 26,346 sales vs. 22,039 (-35%) for the Prius family. The Prius is however certain to finish 2012 in pole position with 301,102 sales to-date vs. 246,170 for the Aqua. The Nissan Note maintains itself on the Japanese podium for the third consecutive month and only the 4th time ever for the nameplate after February 2005 at 10,361 units, up 176% year-on-year.

The Subaru Forester’s previous best-ever ranking in Japan was 15 years ago in April 1997…

The Subaru Impreza continues to impress, up a mammoth 403% on November 2011 to #7 with 5,637 sales, around 1,000 of which should come from the XV. It is now joined by the new generation Subaru Forester up 220% to #15 at 3,113 units. Originally launched in 1997 in Japan, this is the Forester nameplate’s highest ever ranking, beating a 15 year-old record of #19 reached in April 1997… It is its first time in the Top 30 since April 2011 but 17th time overall, only its 2nd time in the Top 20, 6th in the Top 25 and its strongest monthly volume since the 5,107 it sold in March 2008, with the record remaining 6,214 in March 2000.

Finally, notice the Mitsubishi Mirage down 5 spots to #20 with 2,467 sales, the Mazda CX-5 down 10 to #26 at 2,270 units and the Toyota 86 out of the Top 30 for the first time since last March after hitting a best-ever #14 in October.

Previous month: Japan October 2012: Toyota Aqua takes the lead, Toyota 86 up to #14

One year ago: Japan November 2011: Toyota Prius boosted by Alpha version

Full November 2012 Top 30 models and Top 13 brands Ranking Tables below.