2020 (full year sales): Daihatsu was the top mini-vehicle maker in Japan, Suzuki the best-selling minicar brand, and the Honda N-Box the top-selling Kei model.
In full calendar year 2020, Daihatsu remained the largest producer of mini-vehicles in Japan but Suzuki became the best-selling mini passenger car brand. The Honda N-Box was again the top-selling Kei car model.
Latest Japan Car Sales Statistics: 2023 — Brands, Models, Minicars; Data for 2022 – 2009.
Mini Vehicle Sales in Japan in 2020 (Full Year)
Mini vehicle registrations in Japan in full calendar year 2020 was 10.1% lower than a year ago at 1,718,088 mini vehicles. The market for mini passenger cars also contracted by 10% to 1,331,149 kei cars.
Mini cars (kei-jidousya) in Japan are vehicles defined by amongst others being shorter than 3.4 m with a maximum height of 2 m and a maximum width of 1.48 m. The engine capacity is restricted to 0.66 l measured by the Japanese standard.
Best-Selling Mini Vehicle Brands in Japan in 2020 (Full Year)
The top-selling mini vehicle producers by brand in Japan in 2020 (January to December) according to Zenkeijkyo were:
| Mini Vehicles | 四輪車総台数 | Sales 2020 | Sales 2019 | % Change | |
| Total | 合 計 | 1,718,088 | 1,910,346 | -10.1 | |
| 1 | Daihatsu | ダイハツ | 536,292 | 615,240 | -12.8 |
| 2 | Suzuki | ス ズ キ | 523,604 | 573,986 | -8.8 |
| 3 | Honda | ホ ン ダ | 325,332 | 364,833 | -10.8 |
| 4 | Nissan | 日 産 | 202,255 | 200,129 | 1.1 |
| 5 | Mitsubishi | 三 菱 | 42,736 | 56,559 | -24.4 |
| 6 | Mazda | マ ツ ダ | 35,641 | 36,899 | -3.4 |
| 7 | Toyota | ト ヨ タ | 31,373 | 36,432 | -13.9 |
| 8 | Subaru | ス バ ル | 20,767 | 26,186 | -20.7 |
| 9 | Others | そ の 他 | 88 | 82 | 7.3 |
| Source: Zenkeijkyo |
Mini cars (kei-jidousya) in Japan are vehicles defined by amongst others being shorter than 3.4 m with a maximum height of 2 m and a maximum width of 1.48 m. The engine capacity is restricted to 0.66 l measured by the Japanese standard.
There were no changes in the rank order of the largest mini-vehicle producers in Japan in 2020 compared to a year ago. Nissan was the only carmaker to increase mini-vehicle sales in Japan in 2020. Mazda and Suzuki gained market share while Mitsubishi lost nearly a quarter of sales and Subaru more than a fifth.
Best-Selling Minicar Brands in Japan in 2020 (Full Year)
The top-selling mini passenger car producers by brand in Japan in 2020 (January to December) according to Zenkeijkyo were:
| Passenger Cars | 四輪乗用車台数 | Sales 2020 | Sales 2019 | % Change | |
| Total | 合 計 | 1,331,149 | 1,479,205 | -10.0 | |
| 1 | Suzuki | ス ズ キ | 403,480 | 433,499 | -6.9 |
| 2 | Daihatsu | ダイハツ | 394,893 | 464,148 | -14.9 |
| 3 | Honda | ホ ン ダ | 274,439 | 304,191 | -9.8 |
| 4 | Nissan | 日 産 | 163,918 | 161,894 | 1.3 |
| 5 | Mitsubishi | 三 菱 | 33,746 | 45,595 | -26.0 |
| 6 | Mazda | マ ツ ダ | 28,581 | 29,238 | -2.2 |
| 7 | Toyota | ト ヨ タ | 19,687 | 24,669 | -20.2 |
| 8 | Subaru | ス バ ル | 12,320 | 15,892 | -22.5 |
| 9 | Others | そ の 他 | 85 | 79 | 7.6 |
| Source: Zenkeijkyo |
The only rank order change compared to sales in 2019 was that Suzuki outsold Daihatsu by nearly 10,000 mini cars compared to a deficit of 30,000 a year ago. Nissan was the only minicar producer to have increased mini passenger car sales in Japan in 2020 compared to a year ago. Mazda and Suzuki gained market share while Mitsubishi sales were down by more than a quarter while Toyota and Subaru mini car sales were down by more than a fifth.
Best-Selling Minicar Models in Japan in 2020 (Full Year)
The top-selling mini passenger car models in Japan in full-year 2020 were:
| Brand | Model | 通称名 | Sales 2020 | Sales 2019 | % 20/19 | |
| 1 | Honda | N-BOX | Ｎ-ＢＯＸ | 195,984 | 253,500 | -22.7 |
| 2 | Suzuki | Spacia | スペーシア | 139,851 | 166,389 | -15.9 |
| 3 | Daihatsu | Tanto | タント | 129,680 | 175,292 | -26.0 |
| 4 | Daihatsu | Move | ムーヴ | 104,133 | 122,835 | -15.2 |
| 5 | Nissan | Days | デイズ | 87,029 | 157,439 | -44.7 |
| 6 | Suzuki | Hustler | ハスラー | 80,114 | 57,840 | 38.5 |
| 7 | Daihatsu | Mirror | ミラ | 73,462 | 94,527 | -22.3 |
| 8 | Nissan | Roox | ルークス | 72,820 | New | New |
| 9 | Honda | N-WGN | Ｎ-ＷＧＮ | 69,353 | 32,382 | 114.2 |
| 10 | Suzuki | Wagon R | ワゴンＲ | 66,061 | 90,046 | -26.6 |
| Source: Zenkeijkyo |
In 2020, the Honda N-Box remained Japan’s favorite mini car model for the fifth consecutive year. The N-box outsold the Toyota Yaris — Japan’s top-selling regular car model — by 44,000 vehicles. However, the N-Box and all five top-selling minicar models sold in lower numbers in 2020 than the broader market.
In contrast, the Honda N-WGN more than double sales while the Suzuki Hustler also sharply increased volume. The new Nissan Roox was launched early in the year
Latest Japan Car Sales Statistics: 2023 — Brands, Models, Minicars; Data for 2022 – 2009.
