Japan October 2020: Daihatsu (+44.4%), Toyota (+39.7%), Honda (+38.1%) headline market bouncing back up 29.2% on weak year-ago volumes

The new Taft breaks records and enables Daihatsu to shoot up 44.4% in October.

Year-ago volumes in Japan were severely impacted (-24.2%) by typhoons that closed many dealerships. As a result October sales bounce back up 29.2% to 406.851 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -14.7% to 3.807.118. Brand leader Toyota (+39.7%) outpaces the market to cement its domination even further at 34.5% share vs. 31.1% so far this year. In fact the entire podium is overperforming, with Daihatsu (+44.4%) the most dynamic and up two spots on September to #2 and Honda (+38.1%) in third place like YTD. Suzuki (+7.9%) in contrast drops two ranks on last month to #4. No other Top 10 brand manages to grow faster than the market, but all are up by double-digit except Mitsubishi the most timid (+4.7%). Among smaller brads, Ferrari (+197.5%), Peugeot (+148.2%), Fiat (+97%), Jeep (+82.2%), Abarth (+82.1%), Alfa Romeo (+75.5%), and Citroen (+74.7%) shine.

In the regular cars charts, the Toyota Yaris easily keeps the top spot at just under 18.600 sales, distancing another newcomer the Toyota Raize at 13.256. The Toyota Roomy (+65%) climbs 4 spots on last month to #3 and distances the Toyota Corolla (-8.2%), Alphard (+96.7%) and Harrier (+436.3% boosted by its new generation. The Honda Fit (+187%), Freed (+79.7%) and Voxy (+42.4%) also by far outpace the market in the remainder of the Top 10. The Honda N-BOX (+1.7%) remains the most popular kei car in the country ahead of the Daihatsu Tanto (+18.3%), Suzuki Spacia (-1.5%) and Daihatsu Move (+37.4%) while the new Daihatsu Taft breaks into the Top 5 for the very first time with a record volume just under 7.500 units.

Precious month: Japan September 2020: Toyota Yaris sails off, 11th double-digit market fall in past 12 months (-14.3%)

One year ago: Japan October 2019: Toyota Corolla signs first win this decade, Mazda CX-30 lands at #21 in market freefalling -24.2%

Full October 2020 Top 52 All-brands, Top 50 local models and Top 35 All kei cars below.