Japan October 2022: Daihatsu (+87.8%) surges, Toyota Sienta up to #2, market up 28.6%

Toyota Sienta sales are up 142.8% year-on-year thanks to its facelift.

The Japanese new vehicle market scores a splendid year-on-year uptick for the second consecutive month at +28.6% to 359,159 sales. Let’s remember October 2021 was off -31.3% on the year prior. The year-to-date tally is now down -7.4% to 3,479,877 units. Toyota (+35.3%) beats its home market to command 30.8% share vs. 30% so far this year. Daihatsu (+87.8%) posts by far the largest lift in the Top 10 and climbs to 2nd place as a result with 16.5% of the market vs. 13.4% YTD. It overtakes Suzuki (+27.9%) evolving roughly like the market while Honda (+6.7%) and Nissan (-0.4%) markedly underperform. Mazda (+52.7%), Mercedes (+46.2%) and Subaru (+37.3%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, notice Land Rover (+298%), Mini (+54.4%), Ferrari (+48.9%), BMW (+47.7%) and Peugeot (+39.5%). Newcomer BYD can only muster 4 sales this month.

The new generation lifts the Toyota Crown to #20.

Over in the regular cars ranking, below the untouchable Toyota Yaris/Cross (+33.5%), the Toyota Sienta (+142.8%) surges up four spots on September to #2 overall thanks to a new model. The Toyota Corolla/Cross (+34%) remains in third place above the Toyota Raize (+113.1%) and Roomy (+113.1%). #2 last month, the Nissan Note (+38.2%) falls back to #6 ahead of the Toyota Voxy (+173.4%), Noah (+263.8%) and Aqua (-8.3%) making it 8 Toyotas in the Top 9… The Toyota Crown (+123%) is lifted up 16 spots on September to #20 thanks to a new model, with the Mazda CX-60 the best selling recent launch at #29.

The Daihatsu Tanto is up 214% year-on-year in October.

Looking at kei car sales, below the Honda N-BOX (+120%), it’s a Daihatsu festival with the Tanto up 214% to #2 and now #2 YTD as a result, the Move up 173.6% to #3 and the Mira up 59.5% to #6. The Suzuki Alto (+56.9%) and Spacia (+44.1%) also beat the market near the top. In contrast, the Nissan Roox (-27.9%), Daihatsu Taft (-20.2%) and Suzuki Wagon R (-13.2%) struggle. The Suzuki Jimny (+61.5%). A bad sign for the Japanese customers’ EV adoption, the Nissan Sakura is down -55.7% on September to #15 and under 1,900 sales. The Mitsubishi eK Cross EV is also down -54.6% on last month to #21.

Previous month: Japan September 2022: First market lift in 15 months at +24.1%

One year ago: Japan October 2021: Toyota Aqua, Honda Vezel, Suzuki Wagon R shine in market cut -31.3%

Full October Top 55 all brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 all kei cars below.