Japan November 2024: Toyota Land Cruiser (+82.4%), Alphard (+74.1%) stun in negative market

The Toyota Alphard is up to #5 in the regular car ranking.

The Japanese new car market reverses -5.2% year-on-year in November to 389,529 units, leading to a year-to-date tally off -7.3% to 4,091,708. Toyota (-6.6%) falls slightly faster than its home market but reaches a solid 31.9% share vs. 30.8% so far this year. Strikingly, the Top 12 are in the same order as in October. Suzuki (+9.5%) shines at #2 with Isuzu (+42%), Hino (+34.8%), Mitsubishi (+23.7%) and Mercedes (+5.2%) also up. Nissan (-1.5%) and Mazda (-3.2%) manage to contain their fall below the market rate, but it’s not the case for Daihatsu (-26.2%), Subaru (-9.7%), Lexus (-7.9%) and Honda (-7.5%). Further down, Lamborghini (+52.5%), BMW (+41.4%), UD Trucks (+38.6%) and Ferrari (+20.9%) stand out.

Looking at the regular models ranking, Toyota monopolises the Top 5 and places 11 models in the Top 14. The Yaris/Cross (+11.3%) threepeats at #1, distancing the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+21.6%), the latter remaining at #1 year-to-date. The Prius (+16.4%) is also in great shape, but the Sienta (-20.8%) suffers. The Land Cruiser W (+82.4%) and Alphard (+74.1%) manage the largest year-on-year gains in the Top 10, with the Honda Freed (+35.1%), Nissan Note (+17.8%), Toyota Aqua (+4.2%) and Nissan Serena (+0.2%) also in positive. Among recent launches, the Honda WR-V is down one spot on last month to #21, the Mazda CX-80 is up 7 to #28, the Lexus LBX up four to #34 and the Suzuki Fronx down 6 to #35.

As for kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (-14.5%) easily keeps the lead despite a heavy year-on-year loss, but isn’t the best-selling vehicle in the country this month. The Suzuki Spacia (+26.9%) surges ahead at #2, followed by a weak Daihatsu Tanto (-27.7%). The Daihatsu Move (+7.1%) is solid but the Suzuki Hustler (-15.9%) isn’t.

Previous month: Japan October 2024: Toyota Raize up 81.7%, Suzuki Fronx lands

One year ago: Japan November 2023: Lexus, Honda Vezel stand out, market up 9%

Full November 2024 Top 51 All brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 30 All kei cars below.