Japan May 2024: Honda (+37.9%), Suzuki (+20.5%) highlight recovering market

The Honda WR-V is inside the Top 20 in Japan and helps Honda up this month.

New vehicle sales in Japan slow down their fall in May to just -4.4% year-on-year to 312,406 units. Keep in mind May 2023 was up 25% on the year prior. The year-to-date total is now down -14.8% to 1,753,849. Toyota (-13.4%) underperforms year-on-year but scores a solid 30.5% share. Suzuki (+20.5%) and Honda (+37.9%) completely ignore the negative market with double-digit gains. Nissan (-3.4%) is relatively stable but Daihatsu (-44.7%) remains in dire straits and Mazda (-18.9%) also plunges. Subaru (+15.1%), Isuzu (+7.9%) and Mitsubishi (+3.9%) all manage upticks in the remainder of the Top 10. BMW (+22.1%) also shines at #13. All the way down the ranking, notice Lamborghini up 122.7% with 49 sales.

The Toyota Yaris/Cross (+6.5%) stays on top of the regular car charts above the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+39.8%). The Toyota Sienta (-3.2%) recedes year-on-year but remains third. Excellent showings for the Toyota Alphard (+288.9%), Honda Vezel (+83.9%) and Nissan Note (+31.9%) below. Honda has a lot of outstanding models in the Top 50, including the StepWGN (+179.7%), Fit (+51.2%), ZR-V (+103.3%) and the new WR-V (#19).

As for kei cars, we have a little surprise on top of the ranking: for the first time since May 2022, the Honda N-BOX (+4.4%) isn’t the best-seller. Instead, the Suzuki Spacia (+91.9%) takes the lead. The Daihatsu Tanto (-44.9%) rallies back up 9 spots on April to #3 as production restarts. Three Suzukis follow, all in positive: the Wagon R (+10.8%), Hustler (+16.9%) and Alto (+3.9%). The Nissan Dayz (+82%) and Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK (+29.8%) are also in great shape.

Previous month: Japan April 2024: Honda, Mitsubishi defy market down -11.2%

One year ago: Japan May 2023: Toyota Prius up to #2 in market up 25%

Full May 2024 Top 53 All brands, Top 50 regular models and Top 31 All kei cars below.