Japan October 2021: Toyota Aqua (+88.1%), Honda Vezel (+128.8%), Suzuki Wagon R (+79.7%) shine in market cut -31.3%

The new generation lifts the Honda Vezel to its highest ranking in 6.5 years.

No real progress for new vehicle sales in Japan: after losing -32.2% in September, the market is down another -31.3% year-on-year in October to 279.341 units. This tilts the year-to-date tally into negative territory at -1.3% to 3.759.443. As a result we have revised our Japan 2021 Forecast down to 4.42 million units (-4%). Brand leader Toyota (-41.7%) falls even faster than its home market, resulting in a thawed 29.3% share vs. 32% so far this year. In contrast Suzuki (-20.6%), Honda (-25.5%) and Nissan (-5.5%) resist better albeit remain in negative just as Daihatsu (-47.3%) implodes in 5th place and Mazda (-28.2%) contains its fall to just below the market rate. For the second month in a row, Mitsubishi (+10.1%) is the best performer in the Top 15 – and even Top 23 this month – but its impact on the overall market is negligible as it only holds 1.9% share. Chevrolet (+47.8%), Porsche (+12.7%), UD Trucks (+6.1%), Hino (+1.6%) and Renault (+1.4%) also manage a year-on-year gain in the remainder of the Top 30 while Fiat (-9.8%) and Volvo (-9.8%) keep their loss in the single-digits.

In the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Yaris (-43%) easily keeps the lead despite a drastic year-on-year fall in a podium unchanged on September: the Toyota Aqua (+88.1%) ranks #2 and the Toyota Corolla (-29.2%) is #3. Note the Corolla is now #3 year-to-date also, displacing the Toyota Alphard. The Toyota Roomy (-39.1%) rallies back up 9 spots on a paltry September score to #4 while the Honda Vezel (+128.8%) is lifted up by the new generation to #5, the nameplate’s highest ranking in 6.5 years: since March 2015. The Nissan Note (+38.8%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10, with the Honda Freed (-20.5%) and Toyota Sienta (-27.2%) losing less ground than the market but the Honda Fit (-40%) and Toyota Alphard (-54.5%) struggling. Further down, Suzuki Solio (+19.9%), Swift (+17.4%) and Mazda CX-5 (+17.9%) also go against the negative grain, while the Honda Odyssey (+2595.7%) and Subaru BRZ (+5928.6%) get boosted by new generations.

Over in the kei cars charts, we have an earthquake: the Suzuki Wagon R (+79.7%) puts an end to 22 consecutive months of domination by the Honda N-BOX which was #1 since December 2019. In fast the N-BOX (-53.6%) is down to #3 in October below the Nissan Roox (+23%). The Suzuki Spacia (-48.4%) and Hustler (-17.1%) round out the Top 5 like last month while only the Nissan Dayz (+10.8%) manages to post a year-on-year gain in the remainder of the Top 10. The Daihatsu Tanto (-63.6%) is hit particularly hard at #8. Further down, the Honda N-ONE (+6057.1%), S660 (+219.7%) and Mitsubishi eK (+0.5%) stand out with year-on-year lifts.

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

One year ago: Japan October 2020: Daihatsu, Toyota, Honda headline market bouncing back up 29.2%

Full October 2021 Top 52 All-brands, Top 50 regular models and Top 35 kei cars below.