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.
Japan May 2024 – brands:
Pos | Brand | May-24 | % | /23 | Apr | 2024 | % | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
1 | Toyota | 95,264 | 30.5% | – 13.4% | 1 | 522,623 | 29.8% | – 24.6% | 1 | 1 |
2 | Suzuki | 55,546 | 17.8% | + 20.5% | 2 | 316,507 | 18.0% | + 14.8% | 2 | 2 |
3 | Honda | 48,527 | 15.5% | + 37.9% | 3 | 282,534 | 16.1% | + 18.3% | 3 | 4 |
4 | Nissan | 31,604 | 10.1% | – 3.4% | 4 | 209,519 | 11.9% | – 0.2% | 4 | 5 |
5 | Daihatsu | 23,179 | 7.4% | – 44.7% | 5 | 84,711 | 4.8% | – 68.6% | 5 | 3 |
6 | Mazda | 9,548 | 3.1% | – 18.9% | 6 | 59,091 | 3.4% | – 29.4% | 6 | 6 |
7 | Subaru | 7,363 | 2.4% | + 15.1% | 9 | 40,432 | 2.3% | – 5.1% | 8 | 7 |
8 | Lexus | 6,792 | 2.2% | – 2.8% | 8 | 38,071 | 2.2% | – 10.8% | 9 | 9 |
9 | Mitsubishi | 6,754 | 2.2% | + 3.9% | 7 | 50,175 | 2.9% | + 23.2% | 7 | 8 |
10 | Isuzu | 4,367 | 1.4% | + 7.9% | 10 | 24,557 | 1.4% | – 9.3% | 10 | 10 |
11 | Mercedes | 3,885 | 1.2% | – 0.4% | 11 | 20,526 | 1.2% | – 0.3% | 11 | 11 |
12 | Hino | 3,215 | 1.0% | + 12.8% | 13 | 16,704 | 1.0% | + 0.9% | 12 | 12 |
13 | BMW | 2,791 | 0.9% | + 22.1% | 14 | 12,249 | 0.7% | – 7.6% | 14 | 14 |
14 | Mitsubishi Fuso | 2,448 | 0.8% | – 13.0% | 12 | 13,829 | 0.8% | – 3.3% | 13 | 13 |
15 | Volkswagen | 2,100 | 0.7% | – 17.7% | 15 | 10,790 | 0.6% | + 1.0% | 15 | 15 |
16 | Audi | 1,885 | 0.6% | – 6.8% | 16 | 9,774 | 0.6% | – 1.8% | 16 | 16 |
17 | Jeep | 895 | 0.3% | – 4.3% | 19 | 3,769 | 0.2% | – 24.9% | 19 | 19 |
18 | Volvo | 855 | 0.3% | – 23.2% | 18 | 5,255 | 0.3% | – 16.1% | 18 | 18 |
19 | Mini | 798 | 0.3% | – 31.3% | 17 | 5,942 | 0.3% | – 15.0% | 17 | 17 |
20 | Porsche | 607 | 0.2% | – 17.6% | 20 | 3,752 | 0.2% | + 19.0% | 20 | 23 |
21 | UD Trucks | 596 | 0.2% | – 22.0% | 21 | 3,676 | 0.2% | – 11.1% | 21 | 20 |
22 | Land Rover | 526 | 0.2% | – 29.1% | 22 | 3,512 | 0.2% | + 0.5% | 22 | 21 |
23 | Peugeot | 425 | 0.1% | – 24.2% | 23 | 2,276 | 0.1% | – 38.2% | 24 | 22 |
24 | Renault | 373 | 0.1% | – 27.4% | 24 | 2,619 | 0.1% | – 22.9% | 23 | 24 |
25 | Fiat | 342 | 0.1% | – 8.3% | 25 | 1,677 | 0.1% | – 6.6% | 25 | 26 |
26 | Citroen | 239 | 0.1% | – 41.8% | 26 | 1,261 | 0.1% | – 49.4% | 26 | 25 |
27 | Abarth | 126 | 0.0% | + 53.7% | 28 | 633 | 0.0% | + 31.3% | 28 | 30 |
28 | Ferrari | 113 | 0.0% | + 4.6% | 27 | 583 | 0.0% | + 6.0% | 29 | 31 |
29 | BYD | 101 | 0.0% | – 28.4% | 31 | 935 | 0.1% | + 93.2% | 27 | 29 |
30 | Maserati | 100 | 0.0% | + 17.6% | 29 | 514 | 0.0% | + 29.5% | 30 | 27 |
31 | Alfa Romeo | 77 | 0.0% | – 58.8% | 30 | 451 | 0.0% | – 37.0% | 31 | 28 |
32 | Aston Martin | 52 | 0.0% | + 26.8% | 33 | 186 | 0.0% | – 2.1% | 39 | 39 |
33 | Jaguar | 50 | 0.0% | + 16.3% | 43 | 277 | 0.0% | – 6.4% | 34 | 35 |
34 | Lamborghini | 49 | 0.0% | + 122.7% | 34 | 284 | 0.0% | + 53.5% | 33 | 36 |
35 | Bentley | 48 | 0.0% | – 14.3% | 40 | 205 | 0.0% | – 1.4% | 36 | 34 |
36 | Cadillac | 38 | 0.0% | + 40.7% | 45 | 186 | 0.0% | – 29.3% | 40 | 37 |
37 | Scania | 38 | 0.0% | + 8.6% | 35 | 181 | 0.0% | + 25.7% | 41 | 40 |
38 | Chevrolet | 37 | 0.0% | – 31.5% | 32 | 265 | 0.0% | – 20.7% | 35 | 33 |
39 | DS | 36 | 0.0% | – 71.4% | 38 | 204 | 0.0% | – 42.0% | 37 | 32 |
40 | Alpina | 28 | 0.0% | – 44.0% | 39 | 188 | 0.0% | + 72.5% | 38 | 41 |
41 | Rolls-Royce | 27 | 0.0% | + 200.0% | 36 | 157 | 0.0% | + 84.7% | 42 | 43 |
42 | Hyundai | 23 | 0.0% | + 35.3% | 37 | 317 | 0.0% | + 59.3% | 32 | 38 |
43 | Ford | 23 | 0.0% | – 20.7% | 44 | 84 | 0.0% | – 37.3% | 45 | 42 |
44 | McLaren | 20 | 0.0% | + 42.9% | 42 | 88 | 0.0% | + 23.9% | 44 | 46 |
45 | Lotus | 16 | 0.0% | + 1500.0% | 41 | 123 | 0.0% | + 1130.0% | 43 | 45 |
46 | Dodge | 5 | 0.0% | – 70.6% | 46 | 44 | 0.0% | – 59.3% | 46 | 44 |
47 | GMC | 2 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 47 | 9 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 47 | 47 |
48 | Morgan | 2 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 49 | 7 | 0.0% | – 56.3% | 48 | 48 |
49 | Buick | 1 | 0.0% | n/a | 48 | 4 | 0.0% | – 33.3% | 49 | 54 |
50 | Chrysler | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 52 | 3 | 0.0% | – 40.0% | 50 | 51 |
51 | Unimog | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 51 | 3 | 0.0% | – 40.0% | 51 | 53 |
52 | Kia | 1 | 0.0% | n/a | – | 1 | 0.0% | n/a | 54 | 56 |
53 | MG | 1 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | – | 1 | 0.0% | – 80.0% | 55 | 50 |
– | Others | 466 | 0.1% | + 100.0% | – | 2,082 | 0.1% | + 2.5% | – | – |
Japan May 2024 – regular cars:
Pos | Model | May-24 | /23 | Apr | 2024 | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
1 | Toyota Yaris/Cross | 13,538 | + 6.5% | 1 | 69,531 | – 12.8% | 2 | 1 |
2 | Toyota Corolla/Cross | 12,263 | + 39.8% | 2 | 71,388 | + 1.9% | 1 | 2 |
3 | Toyota Sienta | 8,820 | – 3.2% | 3 | 46,662 | – 15.8% | 3 | 3 |
4 | Nissan Note | 7,365 | + 31.9% | 6 | 44,621 | – 10.0% | 4 | 4 |
5 | Toyota Alphard | 5,814 | + 288.9% | 5 | 30,060 | + 26.7% | 9 | 17 |
6 | Honda Vezel | 5,717 | + 83.9% | 4 | 37,302 | + 94.8% | 5 | 14 |
7 | Nissan Serena | 5,507 | – 17.3% | 8 | 33,713 | + 26.9% | 7 | 11 |
8 | Toyota Harrier | 5,294 | – 14.5% | 10 | 29,665 | – 19.7% | 10 | 12 |
9 | Toyota Aqua | 4,966 | – 21.1% | 13 | 22,461 | – 41.1% | 17 | 9 |
10 | Toyota Roomy | 4,887 | – 23.7% | 32 | 10,490 | – 75.7% | 28 | 5 |
11 | Honda StepWGN | 4,845 | + 179.7% | 11 | 29,554 | + 125.0% | 11 | 19 |
12 | Toyota Voxy | 4,692 | – 32.1% | 7 | 28,337 | – 29.0% | 13 | 8 |
13 | Toyota Noah | 4,520 | – 36.1% | 9 | 28,674 | – 29.1% | 12 | 7 |
14 | Honda Fit | 4,436 | + 51.2% | 12 | 27,459 | + 9.3% | 14 | 15 |
15 | Toyota Crown | 4,331 | + 38.6% | 16 | 26,762 | + 36.4% | 15 | 20 |
16 | Honda Freed | 4,280 | – 26.9% | 14 | 31,005 | – 14.5% | 8 | 10 |
17 | Suzuki Solio | 3,881 | + 17.9% | 17 | 24,235 | + 4.1% | 16 | 18 |
18 | Honda ZR-V | 3,185 | + 103.3% | 19 | 18,863 | + 834.7% | 18 | n/a |
19 | Honda WR-V | 3,063 | new | 24 | 7,486 | new | 32 | – |
20 | Toyota Raize | 2,799 | – 46.2% | 18 | 11,833 | – 56.9% | 25 | 13 |
21 | Toyota RAV4 | 2,679 | + 37.4% | 22 | 13,164 | – 42.5% | 22 | 21 |
22 | Mazda2 | 2,652 | + 84.9% | 25 | 8,790 | – 7.3% | 29 | 31 |
23 | Toyota Vellfire | 2,601 | n/a | 20 | 14,202 | n/a | 21 | n/a |
24 | Suzuki Swift | 2,447 | + 26.1% | 21 | 16,000 | + 37.6% | 20 | 25 |
25 | Toyota Land Cruiser W | 2,416 | – 37.8% | 29 | 10,763 | – 58.6% | 27 | 16 |
26 | Subaru Impreza | 2,209 | + 30.2% | 28 | 11,916 | + 0.5% | 24 | 22 |
27 | Suzuki Jimny Wagon | 1,932 | – 7.9% | 26 | 11,720 | + 5.4% | 26 | 26 |
28 | Lexus LBX | 1,722 | new | 27 | 8,744 | new | 30 | n/a |
29 | Nissan X-Trail | 1,521 | – 26.5% | 23 | 16,497 | + 44.3% | 19 | 24 |
30 | Subaru Forester | 1,513 | + 69.2% | 30 | 7,965 | – 2.7% | 31 | 30 |
31 | Subaru Levorg | 1,507 | + 35.6% | 31 | 11,936 | + 92.6% | 23 | 36 |
32 | Toyota Prius | 1,422 | – 84.6% | 15 | 34,930 | – 7.7% | 6 | 6 |
33 | Mitsubishi Delica D5 | 1,200 | + 5.0% | 36 | 7,484 | – 6.0% | 33 | 33 |
34 | Mazda CX-5 | 1,084 | – 43.7% | 33 | 7,159 | – 38.8% | 34 | 28 |
35 | Honda Civic | 1,053 | + 107.7% | 34 | 6,783 | + 16.8% | 36 | 41 |
36 | Lexus NX350H | 979 | – 53.9% | 35 | 5,770 | – 60.6% | 37 | 23 |
37 | Nissan Kicks | 949 | + 4.1% | 37 | 6,902 | + 19.4% | 35 | 35 |
38 | Honda Odyssey | 903 | n/a | 43 | 5,223 | n/a | 40 | n/a |
39 | Suzuki Xbee | 874 | + 18.4% | 38 | 5,710 | – 4.0% | 38 | 40 |
40 | Mazda CX-30 | 843 | – 37.9% | 41 | 5,642 | – 36.0% | 39 | 32 |
41 | Mazda3 | 828 | + 112.3% | 39 | 5,061 | – 16.2% | 41 | 38 |
42 | Toyota Hiace W | 775 | + 14.0% | 42 | n/a | n/a | 49 | 42 |
43 | Lexus RX500H | 768 | – 13.6% | 44 | 3,602 | n/a | 43 | 47 |
44 | Subaru Legacy | 593 | + 2.4% | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
45 | Lexus RX350 | 512 | + 52.4% | 46 | 3,391 | n/a | 44 | n/a |
46 | Mazda CX-3 | 497 | – 19.4% | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
47 | Lexus UX300H | 484 | new | 45 | n/a | new | 50 | – |
48 | Mazda CX-60 | 477 | – 46.8% | 48 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 29 |
49 | Mitsubishi Delica D2 | 465 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
50 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | 411 | – 44.8% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 50 |
Japan May 2024 – kei cars:
Pos | Model | May-24 | /23 | Apr | 2024 | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
1 | Suzuki Spacia | 15,160 | + 91.9% | 2 | 71,943 | + 41.0% | 2 | 3 |
2 | Honda N-BOX | 14,582 | + 4.4% | 1 | 83,877 | – 12.8% | 1 | 1 |
3 | Daihatsu Tanto | 6,174 | – 44.9% | 12 | 15,834 | – 75.8% | 10 | 2 |
4 | Suzuki WagonR | 6,037 | + 10.8% | 4 | 35,510 | + 9.3% | 4 | 6 |
5 | Suzuki Hustler | 6,012 | + 16.9% | 3 | 41,338 | + 51.5% | 3 | 5 |
6 | Suzuki Alto | 5,608 | + 3.9% | 5 | 31,040 | + 1.3% | 6 | 8 |
7 | Nissan Dayz | 4,322 | + 82.0% | 10 | 23,654 | + 64.8% | 8 | 13 |
8 | Daihatsu Mira | 3,933 | – 19.4% | 8 | 14,639 | – 45.9% | 11 | 9 |
9 | Nissan Roox | 3,618 | – 3.4% | 7 | 31,250 | – 9.9% | 5 | 7 |
10 | Mitsubishi Delica Mini/eK | 3,262 | + 29.8% | 6 | 27,605 | + 148.8% | 7 | 11 |
11 | Suzuki Jimny | 3,178 | + 0.3% | 9 | 16,939 | + 4.9% | 9 | 12 |
12 | Honda N-WGN | 2,449 | + 7.9% | 11 | 13,675 | – 23.9% | 12 | 14 |
13 | Nissan Sakura | 1,517 | – 45.3% | 16 | 10,578 | – 35.3% | 13 | 15 |
14 | Suzuki Every Wagon | 1,479 | + 10.5% | 13 | 6,963 | – 20.8% | 15 | 17 |
15 | Daihatsu Taft | 1,427 | – 63.4% | 18 | 5,525 | – 79.6% | 17 | 10 |
16 | Honda N-ONE | 1,364 | + 7.6% | 14 | 7,480 | – 3.1% | 14 | 16 |
17 | Mazda Flair Wagon | 1,051 | + 11.6% | 15 | 6,916 | + 28.3% | 16 | 18 |
18 | Daihatsu Move | 749 | – 90.9% | 22 | 5,462 | – 89.3% | 18 | 4 |
19 | Nissan NV100 Clipper Rio | 547 | + 40.3% | 20 | 2,687 | + 18.6% | 20 | 23 |
20 | Subaru Chiffon | 467 | + 27.9% | 24 | 823 | – 55.9% | 25 | 25 |
21 | Mazda Carol | 328 | – 25.8% | 21 | 1,721 | – 20.1% | 22 | 24 |
22 | Toyota Pixis | 256 | – 80.2% | 19 | 2,114 | – 56.3% | 21 | 19 |
23 | Mazda Flair | 249 | – 19.2% | 23 | 1,497 | – 18.0% | 23 | 27 |
24 | Mazda Flair Crossover | 245 | – 49.0% | 17 | 3,183 | + 42.4% | 19 | 22 |
25 | Mitsubishi eK Cross EV | 153 | – 67.0% | 27 | 1,100 | – 75.4% | 24 | 21 |
26 | Daihatsu Copen | 152 | – 53.4% | 28 | 302 | – 87.2% | 28 | 26 |
27 | Mazda Scrum Wagon | 103 | + 14.4% | 26 | 494 | – 6.3% | 27 | 31 |
28 | Subaru Pleo | 78 | – 48.0% | 25 | 534 | – 46.1% | 26 | 28 |
29 | Toyota Copen GR Sport | 47 | – 63.6% | 31 | 163 | – 76.5% | 30 | 30 |
30 | Mitsubishi Town Box | 42 | – 8.7% | 30 | 203 | – 6.9% | 29 | 32 |
31 | Toyota C+POD | 41 | + 86.4% | 29 | 154 | + 14.1% | 31 | 33 |
Source: JADA, JMVA, JAIA