Japan July 2023: Market up 8.5%, Toyota monopolises Top 6 of regular cars ranking

Toyota Sienta sales are up 461.1% year-on-year in July.

New vehicle sales in Japan rise 8.5% year-on-year in July to 379,053 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 16.2% to 2,829,653. Once again Toyota (+30.9%) vastly outpaces its home market, compensating for slow year-ago results. Suzuki (+15.2%) is also solid in second place whereas Honda (-5.6%) struggles. Nissan (+2.1%) is soft but gains one spot on June to #4, overtaking Daihatsu (-32%) in complete freefall. Lexus (+155.6%) continues to stun at #7 whereas it ranked #12 over the Full Year 2022. Isuzu (+58.4%) is the only additional Top 10 member to outpace the market, just as Mazda (+2.3%) scores a timid gain and Subaru (-24.6%) and Mitsubishi skid. Mercedes (+11.4%) is kept outside the Top 10 at #11 vs. #9 over the Full Year 2022.

Like in June, Toyota monopolises the Top 6 spots in the regular cars ranking. The Toyota Yaris/Cross (+0.9%) is shy while the Toyota Corolla/Cross (-2%) edges down. In contrast the Toyota Sienta (+461.1%), Noah (+94.3%), Prius (+303.6%) and Voxy (+114.7%) all post fantastic scores. The Nissan Note (-0.2%) is the best of the rest at #7 but is almost stable, a weak performance in the current positive context. Nissan also places the Serena (+26.8%) inside the Top 10 at #8. Below, the Toyota Harrier (+248.2%), Land Cruiser W (+70.5%), Crown (+1423.8%), Lexus NX350H (+736.6%) and Suzuki Jimny Wagon (+160.1%) stand out. The Honda ZR-V is the most popular recent launch at #26, distancing the Mazda CX-60 at #32 and the Lexus RX500H at #41.

Over in the kei cars aisle, the Honda N-BOX (+4.8%) easily maintains its lead with over 7,500 units more than the #2, the Daihatsu Tanto (+58.1%) in excellent shape. The Suzuki Spacia (+15.5%) advances to #3 both for the month and year-to-date while the Suzuki Hustler (+52.8%) is also up one spot on June to #4. The Daihatsu Move (-21.7%) is in a rut and falls to #5. The Daihatsu Mira (+56.9%) and Nissan Dayz (+13.1%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas the Nissan Roox (-34.9%) sinks.

Previous month: Japan June 2023: Toyota (+47.6%) tightens its gip to 34.6% share in market up 19.8%

One year ago: Japan July 2022: Mitsubishi, Subaru impress in first single-digit drop in almost a year (-7.4%)

Full July 2023 Top 52 All brands, Top 50 regular models and Top 35 All kei cars below.