Japan March 2022: Nissan (-6.9%), Honda (-8.2%) resist in market down another -16.3%

Honda Vezel sales triple year-on-year thanks to the new generation.

The Japanese new vehicle market falls -16.3% both in March (512,862) and year-to-date (1,197,229) in a month always boosted by end of Financial Year promotions. Toyota (-13.9%) gains share year-on-year to 31.1% vs. 30.4% over the First Quarter of 2022, with Honda (-8.2%) reducing its fall to the single-digits to remain #2 with 14.3% of the market. Suzuki (-23.7%) is weak at 12.6% share whereas Nissan (-6.9%) is only 330 units below and scores the best performance in the Top 15. Daihatsu (-21.5%) and Mazda (-22.8%) both fall faster than the market in contrast with Subaru (-14.3%), Mitsubishi (-13.8%), Hino (-14.1%) and Mercedes (-12.5%) closing the Top 10 like last month and year-to-date. Further down, Mini (+2.5%), Porsche (+3.6%), Fiat (+8.1%), Abarth (+34.6%) and Ferrari (+50.9%) score some of the rare year-on-year gains in market.

In the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-38.7%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date off the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+36.2%) despite a steep year-on-year fall. The Toyota Roomy (+2.9%) is down one rank on last month but defies the negative market with a small gain. In the remainder of the Top 10, it’s double-digit year-on-year gains for the Nissan Note (+14.7%), Honda Freed (+29.5%) and Toyota Aqua (+54.1%), restrained drops for the Toyota Raize (-5.4%), Honda Fit (-8.4%) and Nissan Serena (-12.9%) and a freefall for the Toyota Alphard (-31.5%). The Toyota Voxy (-22.2%) rallies back up 16 ranks on February to #11 despite falling faster than the market, the Toyota Noah (+10.5%) manages a double digit gain and leaps up 13 spots to #12 and the Toyota Harrier (-36.5%) is up 9 to #13. The Honda Vezel (+208.6%), Subaru Forester (+39.6%), Toyota Passo (+21.5%) and Mazda CX-5 (+10.2%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 20.

First Top 20 finish for the Renault Captur during Q1 2022.

Looking at kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (-6%) remains the best-selling vehicle overall with over 25,500 units sold for the month. It distances the Nissan Roox (-3.9%) also resisting well whereas the Suzuki Spacia (-48.2%) and Daihatsu Tanto (-41.3%) flounder. The Suzuki WagonR (+7.8%) secures the only year-on-year gain in the Top 20. The Daihatsu Mira (-8.7%), Suzuki Alto (-11.6%) and Nissan Dayz (-13.3%) all resits ok but the Suzuki Hustler (-37.5%) sinks. Further down, the Honda S660 (+217%), Daihatsu Copen (+75.7%) and Toyota C+POD (+842.9%) all post tremendous lifts.

Over Q1 2022, the Mini lineup (-6.6%) remains by far the best-selling foreigner, it distances this month the Mercedes C-Class (+137.4%) up 16 spots on Q4 2020 to #2. The VW Polo (-4.9%) and VW Golf (+268%) follow while the Volvo 60-Series (-26.2%) is down three ranks to #5. The VW T-Roc (-0.1%) is up two to #5 and the Volvo XC40 (-8.1%) remains in 7th place. Great performances by the Mercedes GLC (#9), Fiat 500 (+21.6%), BMW X3 (#17), Jeep Compass (#19) and BMW X1 (#20) while the Renault Captur lodges its first ever Top 20 finish at #14.

Previous month: Japan February 2022: Honda (+2.1%), Mazda (+2.7%) resist, Toyota Corolla #1 in market down -18%

One year ago: Japan March 2021: Nissan, Peugeot, Jeep headline market up 5.4%

Full March 2022 Top 54 All-brands, Top 50 cars, Top 34 All-kei cars and Q1 2022 Top 20 foreign models below.