2015 (Q3) Japan: Best-Selling Car Brands and Models

Mazda at the Geneva Auto Show 2015Toyota and Honda remained Japan’s best-selling car brands during the first nine months of 2015. The Aqua was again the favorite car model. Year-to-date 2015, the Japanese new vehicle market shrunk by 9.5% with most of the largest car manufacturing selling fewer cars in 2015 than in 2014. Mercedes-Benz replaced Volkswagen as the strongest car importer into Japan.

Japanese New Vehicle Market in 2015 (Q3)

New vehicle registrations in Japan during the first nine months of 2015 were down by 9.5% to 3,908,150 vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks and buses.

In 2015, Japanese new car sales were lower all year after figures were distorted in 2014 due to an increase in sales tax on April 1, 2014. This led many buyers to bringing purchases forward and a very strong first quarter in 2014. Although figures started to even out as 2015 progresses, the Japanese car market remained weak despite the launch of new car models.

Best-Selling Vehicle Manufacturers in Japan in 2015 (Q1-3)

The top-selling car and vehicle brands in Japan during the first nine months of 2015 were as follows according to car sales statistics released by JADA:

2015 Brand Q1-3/2015 Q1-3/2014 % Change
Total 3,908,150 4,318,311 -9.5
1 Toyota 1,098,897 1,180,748 -6.9
2 Honda 569,458 682,428 -16.6
3 Suzuki 492,922 587,042 -16
4 Nissan 471,224 544,231 -13.4
5 Daihatsu 466,288 529,199 -11.9
6 Mazda 202,175 172,290 17.3
7 Subaru 127,277 133,208 -4.5
8 Mitsubishi 81,554 102,846 -20.7
9 Isuzu 58,246 57,299 1.7
10 Mercedes-Benz 49,666 43,873 13.2
11 Hino 45,804 42,292 8.3
12 VW 44,193 50,037 -11.7
13 Lexus 35,176 33,141 6.1
14 BMW 34,040 33,318 2.2
15 Audi 23,617 23,444 0.7
16 BMW MINI 15,119 12,126 24.7
17 Mitsubishi Fuso 12,137 32,056 4.1
18 Volvo 9,913 10,369 4.4
19 UD Trucks 8,443 7,931 6.5
20 Jeep 5,513 5,056 9
21 Porsche 4,880 3,535 38
22 Peugeot 4,381 4,324 1.3
23 Fiat 4,284 5,996 -28.6
24 Renault 3,969 3,506 13.2
25 Ford 3,699 3,765 -1.2

Best-Selling Car Brands in Japan in 2015 (Q1-3)

There were only very minor changes in the rank order of the top-selling car brands in Japan during the first three quarters of 2015 compared to a year ago. The nine best-selling car marques remained unchanged. Mercedes-Benz is a new entry at tenth place at the expense of Volkswagen.

Toyota easily remained the strongest vehicle manufacturer in Japan. Although sales were 7% weaker than a year ago, Toyota gained some market share.

Honda, Suzuki Nissan and Daihatsu all maintained their relative rank positions but all had much weaker sales compared to a year ago.

In contrast, Mazda sales improved by a strong 17% – the best performance by any Japanese brand thus far in 2015. Subaru sales were weaker but better than the market average. Mitsubishi sales were down by a fifth – the worst performer of the top-twenty brands. Commercial vehicle manufacturer Isuzu had slightly stronger sales.

Most of the smaller manufacturers had stronger sales but the unit numbers are small with relative little influence on the performance of the total Japanese new car market.

Mercedes-Benz moved into the top-ten and replaced Volkswagen as Japan’s favorite imported car brand. VW slipped two places to twelfth with sales weak even before the emission scandal broke at the end of September 2015. In Japan, a loss in prestige may be the biggest damage for VW, as its diesel cars are not sold on the Japanese market.

Lexus again moved ahead of BMW while Mini was the most improved of the top twenty best-selling car brands in Japan thus far this year. Of manufacturers selling more than 2,000 cars this year, only Porsche performed better. New models always have a strong impact on sales in Japan.

Best-Selling Car Models in Japan in 2015 (Q2 & Q3)

The following were the top-ten best-selling car models in Japan during the six months from April to September 2015, according to JADA car sales statistics:

Brand Model Q2+Q3/2015 % Change
1 Toyota Aqua 96,516 -7.5
2 Toyota Corolla 59,469 11
3 Toyota Prius 53,973 -27.9
4 Honda Fit 53,579 -42
5 Nissan Note 44,380 -1.3
6 Toyota Voxy 42,235 -33
7 Toyota Vitz 36,495 -19.5
8 Mazda Demio 35,513 159
9 Honda Step WGN 33,246 71.5
10 Toyota Esquire 32,678 New

The figures do not include Kei (mini) cars. However, the Aqua remained the top-selling car but the rest of the top-ten list would look quite different if these popular small cars models were included.

Sport and Exotic Car Sales in Japan in 2015 (Q1-3)

Exotic and especially Italian sports cars traditionally sell well in Japan. A few figures from JADA statistics:

Brand Q1-3/2015 Q1-3/2014 % Change
Maserati 999 957 4.4
Jaguar 917 813 12.8
Ferrari 610 396 54
Lamborghini 285 121 135.5
Bentley 261 218 19.7
Lotus 226 243 -7
Rolls Royce 124 116 6.9
McLaren 59 68 -13.2
Bugatti 2 1 100

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in online writing. His best-selling cars website has been reporting car sales statistics since 2008 with classic car auction prices focusing on the most expensive automobiles sold at public auctions in the past decade. He also owns the travel websites European-Traveler.com and Lake Geneva Switzerland. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Finance from the University of London.