Japan September 2021: Market stalls -32.2%, Mitsubishi (+23.7%) only gainer in Top 15

Mitsubishi eK sales are up 42% year-on-year.

The Japanese new vehicle market crumbles -32.2% year-on-year in September to 318.371 units vs. 459.706 a year ago, leading to a year-to-date tally up 2.3% to 3.480.102 units. We have downgraded our Japan 2021 Forecast to 4.48 million units, tilting into negative at -2% on 2020. Market leader Toyota (-36.7%) falls faster than the market to a weak 29% share vs. 32.2% so far this year, but Nissan (-13.8%) is solid and climbs three spots on August to #2 overall with 13.3% share vs. 10.3% YTD. In contrast, Suzuki (-40.5%), Honda (-33.4%), Daihatsu (-41.8%) and Mazda (-50%) all falter. Note Honda advances to #3 year-to-date, toppling Daihatsu. Mitsubishi (+23.7%) is the only gainer in the Top 15, let alone by double-digits, up one rank on last month to #7. Hino (-7.6%) and Isuzu (-21%) also outpace the market in the remainder of the Top 10. Volvo (+14.6%) shines at #17 while among brands holding 0.2% share or less, Land Rover (+142.2%), Alfa Romeo (+70.1%), Jaguar (+51.4%), Cadillac (+32.8%), Bentley (+27.5%), Maserati (+12.8%), Ferrari (+8.8%) and Renault (+4.2%) stand out with gains.

In the regular models ranking, the Toyota Yaris (-42.5%) manages to stay on top despite a hefty loss, with the Toyota Aqua (+96.3%) now breathing down its neck at a little more than 1.500 sales below. The Toyota Corolla (-41.8%) is up two spots on August to #3 with the Alphard (-28.7%) making it four Toyotas in the Top 4. The Nissan Note (+5.2%) and Serena (+7.5%) as well as the Toyota Sienta (+33%) and Honda Vezel (+34.8%) all manage year-on-year upticks in the remainder of the Top 10. Further down, notice the Subaru Levorg (+1700%), Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (+288.9%), Honda Odyssey (+157.3%), Lexus RX450H (+61.9%), Mitsubishi Delica D5 (+47.4%) and Nissan Leaf (+34.4%) all posting fantastic gains while the Subaru BRZ (+278.4%) breaks into the Top 50 for the first time, directly at #37.

The kei cars ranking is reshuffled this month, apart from the Honda N-BOX (-36.6%) easily retaining the top spot. The Nissan Roox (-9.6%) is up six ranks on August to #2 and progresses to #5 YTD, the Suzuki Wagon R (+4.5%) posts the only year-on-year gain in the Top 7 and is up three spots to #3, the Suzuki Spacia (-54.7%) is down two to #4 and the Suzuki Hustler (-23.9%) is down one to #5. The Mitsubishi eK (+42%) scores the largest uptick in the Top 15, with the Honda N-ONE (+2287.1%), Honda S660 (+70.5%) and Daihatsu Atrai Wagon (+35.9%) also up further down. Over in the Q3 foreign models ranking, the Mini lineup keeps the lead (-20.7%) ahead of the VW Golf (+11.5%) and BMW 3 Series (+21.7%), replicating the Q2 podium. The VW T-Cross (+0.6%) is back up two spots to #4, the Jeep Wrangler (+65.5%) is up three to #5 and the VW T-Roc (+20.7%) down two to #6. 

Previous month: Japan August 2021: Toyota (+6%) once again ignores negative market (-2.1%), Aqua up to #3

One year ago: Japan September 2020: Toyota Yaris sails off, Suzuki, Isuzu resist in 11th double-digit decline in past 12 months (-14.3%)

Full September 2021 Top 50 All-brands, Top 50 regular cars, Top 35 All-kei cars and Q2 2021 Top 20 foreign models below.