Japan January 2022: Honda (+0.6%), Mitsubishi (+5.1%) defy market off -14.2%

The new Outlander helps Mitsubishi up 5.1% in January.

The Japanese new vehicle market starts the year off -14.2% in January to 329,699 units. Toyota (-13.3%) roughy follows the market to end the month at 32% share, exactly the same figure as its FY2021 result. Honda (+0.6%) posts the only year-on-year gain in the Top 6 and climbs two spots on December to #2 with 14.5% share vs. 13% over the FY2021. Suzuki (-19.5%) remains at #3 above Daihatsu (-11.1%) and Nissan (-27.9%) in great difficulty. At #7, Mitsubishi (+5.1%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10 just as Subaru (-41.8%) implodes and both Lexus (-12.8%) and Hino (-2.3%) lose less ground than the market. Just outside the Top 10, Mercedes (+2.7%) shines while Volkswagen (+11.6%) and Fuso (+5.6%) are also up. Further down, notice UD Trucks (+32.4%), Renault (+32%) and Fiat (+25.8%) all posting sizeable year-on-year upticks.

Over in the regular cars charts, the Toyota Yaris (-1.9%) easily retains the top spot while the Toyota Corolla (+63%) is now fully lifted by the Corolla Cross model counted together. Toyota monopolises the Top 5 with the Roomy (-2.1%) at #3, the Aqua (+225%) at #4 and the Raize (+21.6%) at #5. The Honda Vezel (+88.5%) and Nissan Note (+11.2%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas the Toyota Alphard (-53.6%) takes a harsh hit this month. The recently renewed Mitsubishi Outlander (+1015%) is up 14 spots on December to #22, with in order of sales the Suzuki Swift (+27%), Toyota 86 (+321.1%), Subaru Legacy (+799.4%), Honda Odyssey (+47.8%), Nissan Leaf (+79.3%), Mazda Roadster (+114.9%), Mazda CX-3 (+41.2%) and Honda CR-V (+99.3%) also making themselves noticed below.

Kei-car wise, the Honda N-BOX (+17.4%) defies the negative market to reclaim the #1 vehicle spot (when including regular cars), selling almost 2.5 times the volume of its direct followers the Daihatsu Tanto (-32.3%) and Move (-10.9%). The Top 5 is unchanged on December, with the Suzuki WagonR (+23.7%) and Spacia (-57.6%) in tow. The Suzuki Alto (+3.4%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10, just as the Nissan Dayz (-7.6%) and Daihatsu Taft (-13.2%) outpace the market but the Daihatsu Mira (-21%) and Suzuki Hustler (-39%) implode. Great performances below by the Toyota Pixis (+15.5%), Honda S660 (+187.4%) and Daihatsu Copen (+72.2%).

Previous post: Japan Full Year 2021: Toyota Yaris and Roomy top market down -3.3%

One year ago: Japan January 2021: Toyota, Lexus shine in market up 6.8%

Full January 2021 Top 50 All-brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 kei cars below.