2020 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models

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.

Honda N-Box © Honda Japan
2020 (full year): 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.
Honda N-Box © Honda Japan

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.

Japan Car Sales Statistics: 2023 — Q1; 2022 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2021 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2020 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2019 — Brands, Models, Minicars

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 2020Sales 2019% Change
Total合 計1,718,0881,910,346-10.1
1Daihatsuダイハツ536,292615,240-12.8
2Suzukiス ズ キ 523,604573,986-8.8
3Hondaホ ン ダ325,332364,833-10.8
4Nissan日 産202,255200,1291.1
5Mitsubishi三 菱42,73656,559-24.4
6Mazdaマ ツ ダ35,64136,899-3.4
7Toyotaト ヨ タ31,37336,432-13.9
8Subaruス バ ル20,76726,186-20.7
9Othersそ の 他88827.3
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 2020Sales 2019% Change
Total合 計1,331,1491,479,205-10.0
1Suzukiス ズ キ 403,480433,499-6.9
2Daihatsuダイハツ394,893464,148-14.9
3Hondaホ ン ダ274,439304,191-9.8
4Nissan日 産163,918161,8941.3
5Mitsubishi三 菱33,74645,595-26.0
6Mazdaマ ツ ダ28,58129,238-2.2
7Toyotaト ヨ タ19,68724,669-20.2
8Subaruス バ ル12,32015,892-22.5
9Othersそ の 他85797.6
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:

BrandModel 通称名Sales 2020Sales 2019% 20/19
1HondaN-BOXN-BOX195,984253,500-22.7
2SuzukiSpaciaスペーシア139,851166,389-15.9
3DaihatsuTantoタント129,680175,292-26.0
4DaihatsuMoveムーヴ104,133122,835-15.2
5NissanDaysデイズ87,029157,439-44.7
6SuzukiHustlerハスラー80,11457,84038.5
7DaihatsuMirrorミラ73,46294,527-22.3
8NissanRooxルークス72,820NewNew
9HondaN-WGNN-WGN69,35332,382114.2
10SuzukiWagon RワゴンR66,06190,046-26.6
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

Japan Car Sales Statistics: 2023 — Q1; 2022 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2021 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2020 — Brands, Models, Minicars; 2019 — Brands, Models, Minicars