Japan January 2025: Sales up 12.4% on low year-ago volumes

Daihatsu sales are back up 102.2% year-on-year.

New vehicle sales in Japan rally back up 12.4% year-on-year in January to 376,255. Year-ago volumes were disrupted by Daihatsu being hit by a safety test falsification scandal which paused shipments in late December 2023 and completely shut down production for the entire month of January. As a result Daihatsu, which was down -62.6% in January 2024, is now up 102.2% this month to 10.9% share. Toyota (+14.3%) is up to 32% share vs. 30.7% over the Full Year 2024 and Suzuki is up 8.1% in second place. Honda (-5.7%) and Nissan (-3.3%) both struggle (not a good look for the merger negotiations, if they are still happening) whereas Isuzu (+30.2%), Mazda (+24.5%) and Mitsubishi (+14.3%) all progress significantly. Mercedes (+3.5%) leads foreign manufacturers ahead of Volkswagen (+51.7%), BMW (+7.8%) and Audi (+14.6%).

Over in the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (+34.8%) lodges a 5th consecutive month at #1, distancing last year’s leader the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+12.5%). The Toyota Alphard (+45.6%) is in great shape again and repeats at #3. The Toyota Sienta (-2.1%) ensures the Top 4 is unchanged on December. The Nissan Note (-2.5%) and Prius (-3.8%) are weak below, unlike the Toyota Raize (+193.8%), Toyota Aqua (+59.4%) and Honda Freed (+49.5%) in the remainder of the Top 10. The three recent launches in the Top 50, the Honda WR-V (#21), Suzuki Fronx (#37) and Mazda CX-80 (#38) all fall vs. their December ranking.

Looking at kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (-6%) stays on top despite skidding and as the Suzuki Spacia (+31.5%) catches up. Devastated a year ago, the Daihatsu Tanto (+147%), Move (+215.9%), Taft (+158.2%) and Mira (+74.1%) recover this month. The Suzuki Jimny (+73.1%) also impresses.

Previous post: Japan Full Year 2024: Toyota Corolla/Cross edges into #1, sales off -7.5%

One year ago: Japan January 2024: Market (-12.4%) held back by Daihatsu (-62.6%), Lexus LBX in Top 50

Full January 2025 Top 54 All brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 30 All kei cars below.