2019 (Half Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Brands, Models and Mini Cars

During the first half of 2019 Toyota and Honda were the best-selling car brands in Japan. The Toyota Prius was the top-selling car model and the Honda N-Box the favorite mini car.

January to June 2019: Toyota, Honda and Suzuki were again Japan’s best-selling car brands. The Toyota Prius regained the title of Japan’s favorite car model from the Nissan Note. However, the Honda N-Box, Japan’s leading mini car (kei), sold in far higher numbers.

Japanese New Car Market in 2019 (Half Year)

New vehicle registrations in Japan increased during the first half of 2019 by 0.8% to 2,753,419 vehicles including cars, trucks and buses.

Best-Selling Vehicle Brands in Japan in 2019 (First Semester)

New vehicle registration data released by JADA had the following as the leading motor vehicle manufacturers in Japan for the first half year 2019:

	Brand	2019 HY	2018 HY	% Change 18/19
	Total	2,753,419	2,732,478	0.8
1	Toyota	799,552	765,783	4.4
2	Honda	403,364	385,742	4.6
3	Suzuki	378,040	374,078	1.1
4	Daihatsu	345,176	335,114	3.0
5	Nissan	312,742	335,997	-6.9
6	Mazda	103,810	119,901	-13.4
7	Subaru	69,330	76,600	-9.5
8	Mitsubishi	58,253	56,427	3.2
9	Isuzu	41,543	36,173	14.8
10	Hino	35,346	35,301	0.1
11	Mercedes-Benz	31,748	32,503	-2.3
12	Lexus	31,540	32,912	-4.2
13	VW	24,088	26,078	-7.6
14	BMW	23,460	23,458	0.0
15	Mitsubishi Fuso	20,518	21,641	-5.2
16	Mini	12,579	12,772	-1.5
17	Audi	11,314	14,052	-19.5
18	Volvo	9,438	8,725	8.2
19	Jeep	6,149	5,640	9.0
20	Peugeot	5,410	5,231	3.4
	Source: JADA

Top-Selling Car Brands in Japan in 2019 (Half Year)

Toyota remained the top-selling car marque in Japan during the first semester of 2019 by increasing sales by 4.4% to just less than 800,000. Japan’s leading carmaker sold more cars than second-placed Honda and third-placed Suzuki combined.

Daihatsu moved ahead of Nissan with stronger sales while Nissan sales slipped by 7%. This was the only rank position change among the top-ten leading car brands in Japan thus far in 2019.

Mazda and Subaru were the worst-performing top ten car brands in Japan but both maintained their relative rank positions. Mitsubishi increased sales, as did commercial vehicle producers Isuzu and Hino.

Despite weaker sales, Mercedes-Benz regained the top position as leading luxury car brand in Japan from Lexus. Mercedes also remained the top-selling foreign car marque in Japan during the first half of 2019.

Volkswagen sales in Japan were weaker while BMW sold two cars more in Japan during the first half of 2019 compared to a year ago.

Audi was the worst performing top 20 brand in Japan in 2019 with sales down by a fifth. Mini and Audi swapping places were the only further rank changes among the top 20 brands.

Best-Selling Car Models in Japan in 2019 (First Half)

The top ten best-selling car models in Japan during the first half of 2019 were as follows:

	Brand	Model	2019 (HY)	2018 HY	% Change 18/19
1	Toyota	Prius	70,277	64,019	9.8
2	Nissan	Note	68,543	73,380	-6.6
3	Toyota	Aqua	60,349	66, 144	-8.8
4	Nissan	Serena	53,662	56,095	-4.3
5	Toyota	Sienta	50,926	45, 417	12.1
6	Toyota	Corolla	47,836	39,607	20.8
7	Toyota	Voxy	47,834	47, 702	0.3
8	Freed	Honda	45,548	43, 984	3.6
9	Toyota	Rumi	45,544	44, 923	1.4
10	Toyota	Vitz	45,279	42, 529	6.5
11	Honda	Fit	45,089	47, 962	-6.0
	Source: JADA

Note: These numbers exclude mini cars (kei).

Japan’s Ten Favorite Car Models in 2019 (Half Year)

Although only one new car entered the top ten list of best-selling cars in Japan during the first half of 2019, only two cars maintained the same rank position as as year ago. Seven of the ten most-popular car models in Japan were produced by Toyota.

The Toyota Prius regained the top slot as Japan’s favorite car model moving up from third a year ago. Prius sales were up by a tenth while the Nissan Note and Toyota Aqua both slipped on rank position with weaker sales.

The Nissan Serena maintained fourth place despite weaker sales. The Toyota Sienta increased sales and moved up two rank positions.

The evergreen Toyota Corolla returned to the top ten (from 12th last year) with sales up by a fifth. The Toyota Voxy slipped one position with sales up but only two cars fewer than the Corolla.

The Freed was the top-selling Honda model and improved one rank position. The Toyota Rumi slipped one position while the Toyota Vitz maintained tenth.

The Honda Fit slipped out of the top ten to eleventh.

Best-Selling Mini Cars in Japan in 2019 (First Semester)

The top ten mini cars (kei) registered in Japan during the first half of 2019 were:

	Brand	Model	2019 (HY)	2018 (HY)	% Change 18/19
1	Honda	Ｎ-Box	131,233	127,548	2.9
2	Suzuki	Spacia	89,750	79,718	12.6
3	Daihatsu	Tant	81,828	71,809	14.0
4	Nissan	Days	79,789	71,778	11.2
5	Daihatsu	Move	68,833	74,109	-7.1
6	Daihatsu	Mira	55,439	50,138	10.6
7	Suzuki	Wagon R	51,377	61,987	-17.1
8	Suzuki	Alto	38,139	43,365	-12.1
9	Suzuki	Hustler	29,712	32,226	.7.8
10	Mitsubishi	ｅＫ	25,925	24,083	7.6
11	Honda	Ｎ-WGN	22,687	35,783	-36.6
	Source: Zenkeijkyo

Mini cars (kei) are hugely popular in Japan with the top four all selling in higher numbers than the Toyota Prius.

The Honda N-Box remained the best-selling mini car in Japan while the Suzuki Spacia was again second. The Daihatsu Tant and Nissan Days moved ahead of the Daihatsu Move.