Japan Kei cars May 2013: Daihatsu Move confirms top spot

Daihatsu Move

* See the Top 25 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Stephen *

The new Kei cars market is down a disappointing 6% year-on-year in May to 148,549 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 886,701 units, down 2% on 2012. I’ll just pause right there to give a bit of perspective to these figures: I know Kei cars are often overlooked and dismissed as ‘not real cars’ (not by me, but you know…). However they do represent 40% of the total Japanese car market and more Kei cars were sold in Japan over the first 5 months of 2013 than cars were sold in France…

Mazda Flair Wagon

For the second month in a row and only the third time in over 2 years (with February 2011), the Daihatsu Move is the most popular Kei car in the country thanks to 16,528 sales, up 31% year-on-year. The Honda N-Box, #2 again this month at 14,627 units and -24%, remains in pole position year-to-date however, selling an impressive 100,610 units in 5 months. The Suzuki Wagon R follows with 13,538 sales ahead of the Daihatsu Mira at 12,561. Notice also the Suzuki Spacia up one spot to a best-ever #7, the Mazda Flair up 4 to #13 and the Mazda Flair Wagon up 7 to #14 thanks to the new model which is basically a rebadged Suzuki Spacia…

Previous month: Japan Kei cars April 2013: Daihatsu Move makes a move

One year ago: Japan Kei cars May 2012: Honda N-Box confirms new leadership

Full May 2013 Top 25 Ranking Table below.