Japan June 2023: Toyota (+47.6%) tightens its grip to 34.6% of market up 19.8%

Toyota sales vastly outpace their home market in June.

392,719 new vehicles hit Japanese roads in June, a 19.8% year-on-year improvement. As a result the H1 2023 volume is up 17.5% to 2,450,599 units. Note the June result is still -12.8% off pre-pandemic June 2019. Toyota (+47.6%) vastly outruns its home market to tighten its stranglehold to 34% share vs. 29.6% over H1. Suzuki (+8.6%) remains in 2nd place despite trailing the market by a significant margin. Honda (-10.7%) advances to #3 ahead of Daihatsu (+1.4%) with Lexus (+143.8%), Isuzu (+94.4%) and Mazda (+38.4%) scoring the best gains in the remainder of the Top 10. Nissan (+18.3%) is also solid in 5th position but Mitsubishi (+10%) and Subaru (+0.2%) disappoint. Mercedes (+16.2%) is the best-selling foreign carmaker again but is kept outside the Top 10 at #11. DS (+218.3%), Land Rover (+152.1%), Lamborghini (+117.5%), Porsche (+44.7%) and Maserati (+42.1%) are some of the best performers further down the charts just as newcomer BYD drops four spots on May to #32.

In the regular models ranking, Toyota monopolises the Top 6 like last month, placing the Yaris/Cross (+35.1%) in the lead above the Corolla/Cross (+35.7%) and the Sienta (+187.2%). The following nameplates all post surreal gains: the Prius is up 572% thanks to a new generation, the Noah is up 132.2% and the Voxy up 107.7%. The Nissan Note (-2.3%) is the best of the rest despite an underwhelming performance. Notice also the Toyota Harrier (+160%), Crown (+977.1%), Nissan X-Trail (+293.4%), Suzuki Jimny Wagon (+105.5%) and Lexus NX350H (+217%) all in great shape. 

As for kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (-5.9%) keeps the lead but the Daihatsu Tanto (+152.9%) is getting significantly closer this time. The Daihatsu Move (+39.2%) and Suzuki Spacia (+3%) complete a Top 4 identical to last month and H1. The Suzuki Hustler (+36.6%) and Nissan Dayz (+26.1%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. Notice also the Nissan Sakura EV up 93.2% year-on-year to #13, a ranking it also holds over H1.

The Mini range (-0.3%) tops the foreign models charts again, distancing the VW Golf (-10.9%) and Mercedes C-Class (-52%) both in difficulty. The Audi A3 (+49.1%) is up 9 spots on Q1 to #4 while the Mercedes G-Class (+35.2%) is up 10 to #5. The BMW 2 Series (+130.3%), 3 Series (+35.5%) and Mercedes GLB (+32.9%) also impress. The Land Rover Defender 110 scores a second consecutive Top 20 finish at #20.

Previous month: Japan May 2023: Toyota Prius up to #2 in market up 25%

One year ago: Japan June 2022: Mitsubishi, Mazda stand out, 10th straight double-digit market drop (-10.8%)

Full June 2023 Top 50 All brands, Top 50 regular models, Top 35 All kei cars, Q2 and H1 2023 Top 20 foreign models below.