Japan August 2017: Aqua back on top, C-HR falls in market up 5.5%

The facelifted Toyota Aqua takes the lead of the regular car charts in August. Picture autos-one.jp 

* See the Top 53 All-brands, Top 30 models and Top 35 kei cars by clicking on the title *

Now updated with kei cars models data

The Japanese new car market is up 5.5% year-on-year in August to 355.308 registrations, lifting the year-to-date tally up 8.1% to 3.565.396. Market leader Toyota goes against the grain with a 2.7% decline but remains at a strong 30.2% share vs. 30.4% year-to-date. Honda (+3.2%) and Suzuki (+5.8%) round up the podium like in the YTD ranking but below, Daihatsu (+13.2%) and Nissan (+19.9%) more than double the market growth, catching up on weak kei car sales a year ago. In the Top 10, Subaru (+12.9%), Isuzu (+17.9%), Mitsubishi (+18.5%) and Hino (+68.1%) also frankly outpace the market. Reversely, Lexus tumbles down 31%. Mercedes (+0.4%) remains the most popular foreign carmaker at #11 overall, distancing BMW (+12.2%), Volkswagen (+5.6%) and Audi (+15.4%). Volvo (+18.6%), Abarth (+22.5%), Renault (+34.4%), Land Rover (+35.7%) and Hyundai (+10%) also shine.

The Toyota Roomy is up to #8 in August. 

In the models ranking, the Toyota Aqua, freshly facelifted, is back in the top spot thanks to a limited 3% year-on-year decline to be compared to -40% for the Toyota Prius. It is the first time since November 2015 that the Aqua tops the regular car sales charts in Japan. The Nissan Note falls back down to #3 despite a 73% year-on-year surge, distancing the Honda Fit (+10%) and Toyota Voxy (+3%). The Honda Freed is up 11-fold on August 2016 thanks to a new model, while the Toyota Roomy is the most popular new launch (<12 months) for the first time in 2017, ranking at a best-ever #8, also hit last April and December. It surprisingly outsells the Toyota C-HR, tumbling down 6 spots on last month to a paltry #11 while the Toyota Tank remains at #14. The C-HR fall is worrying for Toyota as the brand’s new crossover had started with a bang earlier in the year, snapping the overall pole position in April… Notice also the Subaru Impreza up 64%, the Toyota Harrier up 44%, Toyota Camry up 628% and the Mazda CX-5 up 104%.

The Daihatsu Move is the best-selling kei car in Japan in August. 

Over in the kei car aisle, the Daihatsu Move surges 112% year-on-year and 5 spots on July to land in pole position with 10.364 sales, meaning that for once the Toyota Aqua – a regular car – is the best-selling vehicle in the country. It is however the first time since July 2013 that the Daihatsu Move is the best-selling kei car in Japan. The Honda N-BOX, down 24% to #2, remains by far the best-selling kei car year-to-date at 130.812 units. The Nissan Dayz is up 33%, the Suzuki WagonR up 60%, the Daihatsu Mira up 69%, Toyota Pixis up 41%, Mazda Flair up 77% and the Subaru Pleo up 50%.

Previous month: Japan July 2017: Nissan Note reclaims top spot, Toyota C-HR down

One year ago: Japan August 2016: Toyota (+16%) outpaces market back in positive

Full August 2017 Top 53 All-brands, Top 30 models and Top 35 kei cars below.