Japan August 2018: Toyota Corolla scores first podium in 3 years

The Toyota Corolla is at its highest at home since September 2015.

* Now updated with the Top 50 All-brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 33 kei cars *

New light vehicle sales in Japan gain 2.5% year-on-year in August to 364.216 registrations, meaning the year-to-date volume is now down just 0.8% to 3.538.227. Brand leader Toyota edges up 0.6% to 29.6% share, one percentage point above its YTD level of 28.6% and more than double any other manufacturer present in Japan. Suzuki (+12.8%) posts the largest gain atop the sales charts, returning to the #2 spot for the 4th time in the past 5 months and knocking Honda (+8%) down to #3. Daihatsu (-0.1%) is down marginally but remains at #4 ahead of Nissan (+5.3%) while Mitsubishi (+16.1%) and Mazda (+11.7%) both score sturdy results in the remainder of the Top 10 just as Hino (-32.1%), Subaru (-17.7%) and Isuzu (-15.9%) crumble down.

For the second straight month, there are no foreigners in the Top 10 brands with Mercedes (-1.6%) holding onto its crown at #11 overall, distancing Volkswagen (+19.2%) once again very strong, BMW (-12.9%) and Audi (-7.6%). Below Lexus (+21.3%) faring the best of any Japanese brand, Alfa Romeo (+153.7%), DS (+116.7%), Jaguar (+105.4%), Chevrolet (+52%), Porsche (+42.6%), Citroen (+27%), Ferrari (+25.5%), Peugeot (+19.4%) and Jeep (+14.4%) are among the most dynamic foreigners.

The success of the new Jimny helps Suzuki back up to #2 in the brands ranking.

In the regular cars ranking, the Nissan Note (+10%) reclaims the top spot for the first time since last March and the 5th time in the past 14 months, cementing its YTD lead over the Toyota Aqua (-17%) knocked down to #2 in August. Thanks to the new gen hatch, the Toyota Corolla soars 61% year-on-year to hit its highest ranking at home in almost three years – since September 2015. The Toyota Prius (-28%) continues to freefall but climbs back up one rank on last month to #4, dislodging the Toyota Vitz (+35%).

The Nissan Serena (+21%), Toyota C-HR (+20%) and Toyota Roomy (+14%) also securing solid gains in the Top 10, while outside, the Toyota Crown (+211%) is up 3-fold on August 2017 thanks to the new generation. The Lexus NX300H (+419%), Nissan Leaf (+284%), Subaru Forester (+146%) and Mazda Axela (+94%) also make waves. The Suzuki Xbee is the #1 recent launch (<12 months) at #32 ahead of the Mazda CX-8 (#34), the relaunched Honda CR-V (#35), Honda Civic (#37), Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (#48) and Toyota JPN Taxi (#49). The Honda N-BOX (+54%) and Suzuki Spacia (+64%) cements their domination of the kei car charts with outlandish gains, joined further down by the Suzuki Jimmy (+120%).

Previous month: Japan July 2018: Lexus (+30.8%), Mitsubishi (+20.8%) lift market up

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

Full August 2018 Top 50 brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 33 kei cars below.