Japan November 2021: Toyota Corolla takes charge, market narrows fall to -14.4%

The Corolla Cross is included in Corolla sales in Japan.

The Japanese new vehicle market reduces its fall from -31.3% in October to -14.4% or almost -60,000 sales in November at 352,455 registrations. This is in line with our 2021 Forecast which therefore doesn’t change at 4.42 million units (-4%). This brings the year-to-date tally down -2.5% to 4,111,898 units. Toyota (-17.5%) falls slightly faster than the market but retains its iron grip on the Japanese charts with 32.1% share, more than double any other carmaker. Suzuki (-11.9%), Daihatsu (-10.9%), Honda (-8.2%) and Nissan (-10.3%) all keep their losses below the market rate and improve share year-on-year as a result. Below, Mazda (-16.9%) and Subaru (-14.5%) are close to the market decline while Hino (-0.1%) is stable and Mitsubishi (+7.4%) signs the only year-on-year gain in the Top 10. There are still no foreigners inside the Top 10 with Mercedes (-42.5%) the best ranked at #11 ahead of BMW (-30.5%) at #13 and Volkswagen (-4.8%) at #14. Maserati (+48.5%), Renault (+7%), Ferrari (+3.8%), Porsche (+3.7%) and Volvo (+1.3%) are the only additional gainers in the Top 30.

In the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Corolla (+41.2%) takes the lead for the first time since March 2020. As it is the case for the Yaris (-40.1%), we are assuming that the Corolla Cross is counted within Corolla sales which explains the sudden rise in volume. The Toyota Roomy (+27.9%) completes a podium 100% Toyota and distances the Nissan Note (+171.9%) and Toyota Aqua (+109.6%) both in great shape. The Honda Vezel (+147.2%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10, with the Toyota Voxy (-2.2%) and Honda Fit (-15.2%) resisting somewhat but the Toyota Alphard (-46.4%) and Raize (-41.5%) freefalling. The Daihatsu Rocky (+158.2%), Subaru Forester (+134%) and Mazda CX-8 (+131%) also impress further down while the Toyota 86 (+146.4%) is up to #41. The kei car ranking returns to a kind of normality with the Honda N-BOX (-1.3%) back on top above the Daihatsu Tanto (+2.1%) and Suzuki Spacia (-10.3%), with the Nissan Roox (-17.8%) and Suzuki Wagon R (+39.8%) rounding out the Top 5.

Previous month: Japan October 2021: Toyota Aqua, Honda Vezel and Suzuki Wagon R shine in market cut -31.3%

One year ago: Japan November 2020: Toyota monopolises Top 7 regular cars in market up 6.7%

Full November 2021 Top 55 All-brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 34 All-kei cars below.