Japan March 2025: Sales continue recovery at +10.7%

Daihatsu sales are back up 240.3% in March.

The Japanese new vehicle market once again benefits from a low year-ago comparison base as sales were impacted by production disruptions. This month sales are up 10.7% to 499,745 units, which is however a relatively soft result as March 2024 was down -21.1%. March is always the strongest month of the year as carmakers rush to register cars before the end of the Financial Year. The Q1 2025 tally is up 13.6% to 1,285,351. Toyota soars 16.2% to 29.1% share, yet this is lower than the 30.6% it commands over Q1. Honda (+4.1%) is discreet at #2 whereas Suzuki (-13%) and Nissan (-11.5%) underperform. Daihatsu (+240.3%) recovers but drops to #5 year-to-date, passed by Nissan. Isuzu (+37.6%), Mazda (+23.1%) and Subaru (+22.9%) all excel in the remainder of the Top 10. Mercedes (+1%) tops foreign manufacturers as usual at #11, distancing BMW (+5.6%), Volkswagen (+56.8%) and Audi (-20.3%).

Looking at the regular car ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (-6.8%) and Corolla/Cross (-13.2%) keep the lead but slow down. The Toyota Sienta (+39.2%) surges ahead at #3 and is once again the best-selling single nameplate. The Honda Freed (+16.5%) is also solid at #4 while the Nissan Note (-21.4%), in difficulty, ensures the Top 5 is identical to February and YTD. The Toyota Aqua (+96.5%), Alphard (+27.3%) and Noah (+13.9%) also beat the market below. The Toyota Roomy (+1052.1%) and Raize (+294.8%) catch up on lost year-ago time. Notice also the Nissan Fairlady Z (+600.4%) advancing to a record #39 for its 2nd ever month inside the Japanese Top 50.

As for kei cars, the Honda N-BOX (+16%), Suzuki Spacia (-7.9%) and Daihatsu Tanto (+1123.2%) are undisturbed while the Daihatsu Move (+1329.7%) passes the Suzuki Hustler (-21.1%) for #4. The Daihatsu Taft (+969.8%) and to a much lesser extent the Daihatsu Mira (+92.1%) also recover. In the foreign models Q1 ranking, the Mini lineup (+15.5%) ranks #1 above the VW Golf (+29%) and T-Cross (+159.9%) with the Mercedes GLC (+5.8%) and G Class (+52.5%) rounding out the Top 5. The Porsche 911 (+16.9%) points its bonnet at #19.

Previous month: Japan February 2025: Market bounces back up 18.7%

One year ago: Japan March 2024: Toyota (-36%), Daihatsu (-78.1%) pull market down -21.1%

Full March 2025 Top 55 All brands, Top 50 regular models, Top 30 All kei cars and Q1 Top 20 foreign models below.