Japan January 2023: Toyota up to 32.4% share in very dynamic market (+16%)

The Toyota Crown is up to #14 in January.

The Japanese new vehicle market lifts 16% year-on-year in January to 382,338 registrations. The Top 8 order of best-selling carmakers are identical to December and the Full Year 2022. Toyota (+17.4%) climbs to a very strong 32.4% market share vs. 29.7% over the Full Year 2022. It is followed by Suzuki (+24.2%) and Daihatsu (+21.7%) both in great shape. Honda (-5.8%) underperforms at #4 whereas Subaru (+38.9%), Nissan (+25.8%) and Mazda (+22.8%) all beat the market and Mitsubishi (+13.4%) is shy. Isuzu (+48.1%) and Lexus (+32.3%) complete the podium in stellar fashion. Mercedes (-1.7%) remains the best-selling foreign brand in the country but drops two spots to #11. It distances Audi (+56.3%), Volkswagen (-13.1%) and BMW (-14%). Notice also Land Rover (+51%), UD Trucks (+46.8%) and Peugeot (+21.3%) all posting fantastic gains.

Looking at the regular car ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-18.7%) reclaims the top spot it held over the Full Year 2022, with the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+14.1%) downgraded to #2. The Toyota Sienta (+219.5%) continues to b elicited by the new generation while the Nissan Note (+17.9%) and Toyota Roomy (-28.4%) round out the Top 5. The Toyota Noah (+315.7%) and Voxy (+298.4%) post sensational gains in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, the Toyota Harrier (+60%) and RAV4 (+161.4%) impress and make it 10 Toyotas in the Top 12, with the Crown (+180.1%) up to #14, its best ranking since it hit #13 in December 2018. The new Mazda CX-60 is up 13 spots on December to a new record #21.

In the kei car aisle, the Honda N-BOX (+3%) easily keeps the lead above the Daihatsu Tanto (+79.4%) and Move (+30%). The Suzuki Spacia (+84.8%) is also in extraordinary shape just as the Nissan Roox (+265100%) recovers from a production stop a year ago. The Suzuki Hustler (+53.6%) and Honda N-WGN (+29.7%) shine below. The Nissan Sakura EV is up one spot on December to #11

Previous post: Japan 2022: Honda N-BOX and Toyota Yaris best-sellers in market off -5.6%

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

Full January 2023 Top 50 all brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 all kei cars below.