Japan August 2023: Toyota places 7 models in Top 7 regular cars ranking

Toyota holds 33.3% of its home market in August.

The Japanese new vehicle market improves 17.3% year-on-year in August to 340,342 sales, leading to a year-to-date volume up 16.3% to 3,169,994. Local behemoth Toyota (+42.6%) continues to vastly outpace its home market and accounts for exactly 1 in 3 new vehicles sold this month vs. 30.2% year-to-date. Suzuki (+8.5%) remains in 2nd place with 14.1% share despite a lukewarm result. In fact the entire Top 6 returns to its YTD order, with Daihatsu (+9.1%), Honda (+7.6%), Nissan (-1.2%) and Mazda (-1%) in tow. Lexus (+116.7%) and Isuzu (+73.1%) post the largest gains in the Top 10 whereas Mitsubishi (+3.3%) is shy and Subaru (-16.2%) freefalls. Below, Alfa Romeo (+98.5%), Maserati (+83.3%) and Land Rover (+70.4%) stand out but remain below 0.3% share.

In the regular car ranking, last month Toyota managed to monopolise the Top 6 spots, this time the manufacturer does even better with 7 models in the Top 7. The Yaris/Yaris Cross (+1.4%) easily remains on top with over 14,000 units above the Corolla/Corolla Cross (+39.1%). The Sienta (+244.6%) ranks third like last month and YTD, the Roomy (+76.8%) rallies back up from #15 in July to #4, the Prius (+274.6%) is boosted by the new generation, the Noah (+89.6%) and Voxy (+94.1%) shoot up. The Nissan Note (-21.3%) and Serena (+9.8%) are the only non-Toyota models in the Top 10. Notice also the Toyota Alphard (+128.1%), Land Cruiser W (+43.3%), Crown (+1938.2%), Lexus NX350H (+2125.3%), Suzuki Jimny Wagon (+109%) and Toyota Vellfire (+1518.6%) all posting sensational gains.

Over in the kei car aisle, the Honda N-BOX (+51.1%) is once again the best-selling vehicle in the country when counting regular cars and kei cars, it distances the Daihatsu Tanto (+113.9%), Suzuki Spacia (+29.9%) and Hustler (+53.6%) all in formidable shape. The Top 7 kei cars are in the same order as last month, but the Daihatsu Move (+7.4%), Suzuki Wagon R (+1.4%) and Alto (+0.3%) all disappoint. Further down, notice the Honda N-ONE (+176.6%) and Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+94.5%) both very dynamic.

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

One year ago: Japan August 2022: Suzuki up to #2, Mitsubishi, Mazda shine in market off -9.3%

Full August 2023 Top 51 All brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 all kei cars below.