Toyota Prius sales are up 137.2% year-on-year.
Note the March 2023 post has been updated with Q1 2023 Top 20 foreign models.
The Japanese new vehicle market is up another beautiful 16.7% year-on-year in April to 349,592 sales, leading to a year-to-date tally up 15.7% to 1,731,150 units. Toyota (+17.7%) slightly outpaces its home market to hold 33.7% share, exactly the same as year-to-date. Below, Daihatsu (+15%) climbs to 2nd place above Suzuki (+14.9%) and Honda (-2.3%), in difficulty. Nissan (+18%) stays in the 5th spot above a soaring Mazda (+88.3%) and a shy Subaru (+4.5%). Lexus (+145.4%) is once again the hero of the month at #8 with Isuzu (+57.7%) and Mitsubishi (+32%) also very dynamic. Further down, great performances are much rarer, with BMW (+66.1%) and Land Rover (+179.3%) standing out.
Over in the regular models charts, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (+40.8%) holds onto the lead above the Toyota Corolla/Cross (+7.6%) with the Toyota Sienta (+120.8%) coming in third place. Lifted by a new generation, the Toyota Prius (+137.2%) climbs to #4, the nameplate’s highest ranking since December 2019. The Roomy (-29.7%), leader a year ago, ensures the Top 5 is a 100% Toyota affair. Excellent progressions also by the Nissan Serena (+112.9%), Toyota Harrier (+61.9%), Voxy (+38%) and Noah (+23.2%). The Honda StepWGN (+1115.5%!), Lexus NX350H (+708.1%), Suzuki Solio (+119.8%), Toyota Aqua (+106.8%) and Crown (+101.6%) also shine further back in the ranking. The Mazda CX-60 (#26) and Lexus RX500H (#42) are the two recent launches in the Top 50.
As far as kei cars are concerned, the Honda N-BOX (-3%) remains dominant despite a small year-on-year decline. The next three models all vastly outrun the market, with the Daihatsu Tanto (+64.8%) most dynamic ahead of the Daihatsu Move (+40.7%) and Suzuki Spacia (+31.8%). Note the Top 4 ranking is identical to March and YTD. Bar the Suzuki Alto (+10%) at #5 and the Daihatsu Taft (+5.5%) at #7, all remaining Top 10 members fall, with the Suzuki Hustler (-39.4%) and Nissan Roox (+28.4%) hit the hardest.
Previous month: Japan March 2023: Lexus (+204.9%) superstar again, sales up 11.6%
One year ago: Japan April 2022: 8th straight double-digit fall (-14.4%), Toyota Roomy #1 for first time, Nissan Ariya lands
Full April 2023 Top 50 All brands, Top 50 regular models and Top 35 All kei cars below.
Japan April 2023 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Apr-23 | % | /22 | Mar | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Toyota | 117,773 | 33.7% | 17.7% | 1 | 583,483 | 33.7% | 25.7% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Daihatsu | 51,870 | 14.8% | 15.0% | 4 | 228,155 | 13.2% | 17.3% | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Suzuki | 48,371 | 13.8% | 14.9% | 3 | 229,631 | 13.3% | 15.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Honda | 36,570 | 10.5% | -2.3% | 2 | 203,578 | 11.8% | -3.9% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Nissan | 33,034 | 9.4% | 18.0% | 5 | 177,241 | 10.2% | 6.0% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Mazda | 14,614 | 4.2% | 88.3% | 6 | 71,908 | 4.2% | 16.3% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Subaru | 7,659 | 2.2% | 4.5% | 7 | 36,202 | 2.1% | 8.0% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Lexus | 7,535 | 2.2% | 145.4% | 8 | 35,672 | 2.1% | 142.5% | 8 | 12 |
| 9 | Mitsubishi | 5,956 | 1.7% | 32.0% | 9 | 34,214 | 2.0% | 9.6% | 9 | 8 |
| 10 | Isuzu | 3,946 | 1.1% | 57.7% | 10 | 23,017 | 1.3% | 76.2% | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 3,559 | 1.0% | 3.3% | 11 | 16,692 | 1.0% | 2.8% | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Hino | 2,775 | 0.8% | -15.8% | 12 | 13,706 | 0.8% | -27.4% | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Fuso | 2,765 | 0.8% | 44.0% | 13 | 11,482 | 0.7% | 28.5% | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | BMW | 2,542 | 0.7% | 66.1% | 14 | 10,978 | 0.6% | 20.5% | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | 1,484 | 0.4% | -25.0% | 15 | 8,128 | 0.5% | -13.9% | 15 | 13 |
| 16 | Audi | 1,363 | 0.4% | -3.0% | 16 | 7,934 | 0.5% | 36.3% | 16 | 16 |
| 17 | Mini | 1,217 | 0.3% | -10.9% | 17 | 5,833 | 0.3% | -9.1% | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Jeep | 1,136 | 0.3% | 32.1% | 19 | 4,086 | 0.2% | 42.6% | 19 | 19 |
| 19 | Volvo | 910 | 0.3% | -39.2% | 18 | 5,150 | 0.3% | -4.1% | 18 | 18 |
| 20 | Land Rover | 715 | 0.2% | 179.3% | 23 | 2,753 | 0.2% | 80.5% | 23 | 26 |
| 21 | UD Trucks | 695 | 0.2% | -2.1% | 20 | 3,370 | 0.2% | 15.6% | 20 | 20 |
| 22 | Peugeot | 600 | 0.2% | -20.0% | 22 | 3,120 | 0.2% | 10.6% | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | Renault | 355 | 0.1% | -1.4% | 21 | 2,884 | 0.2% | 13.5% | 22 | 21 |
| 24 | Porsche | 351 | 0.1% | -29.5% | 25 | 2,417 | 0.1% | -7.0% | 24 | 23 |
| 25 | Citroen | 340 | 0.1% | -15.2% | 24 | 2,083 | 0.1% | 15.2% | 25 | 25 |
| 26 | Fiat | 315 | 0.1% | -5.7% | 26 | 1,423 | 0.1% | -35.6% | 26 | 24 |
| 27 | Abarth | 109 | 0.0% | -44.1% | 29 | 400 | 0.0% | -60.8% | 29 | 27 |
| 28 | Ferrari | 102 | 0.0% | -32.0% | 30 | 442 | 0.0% | -7.9% | 28 | 29 |
| 29 | BYD | 91 | 0.0% | new | 28 | 343 | 0.0% | new | 30 | 48 |
| 30 | Chevrolet | 58 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 32 | 280 | 0.0% | 17.6% | 32 | 34 |
| 31 | Bentley | 51 | 0.0% | 18.6% | 40 | 152 | 0.0% | -1.3% | 38 | 35 |
| 32 | Jaguar | 50 | 0.0% | -12.3% | 37 | 253 | 0.0% | -43.5% | 33 | 31 |
| 33 | Maserati | 49 | 0.0% | -24.6% | 31 | 312 | 0.0% | -16.1% | 31 | 30 |
| 34 | DS | 45 | 0.0% | -43.8% | 39 | 226 | 0.0% | -0.4% | 35 | 33 |
| 35 | Alfa Romeo | 43 | 0.0% | -67.7% | 27 | 529 | 0.0% | -12.3% | 27 | 28 |
| 36 | Cadillac | 35 | 0.0% | -37.5% | 33 | 236 | 0.0% | -12.6% | 34 | 32 |
| 37 | Aston Martin | 32 | 0.0% | -27.3% | 35 | 149 | 0.0% | 12.0% | 39 | 40 |
| 38 | Ford | 27 | 0.0% | -42.6% | 42 | 105 | 0.0% | -37.9% | 41 | 39 |
| 39 | Scania | 24 | 0.0% | 9.1% | 38 | 109 | 0.0% | 16.0% | 40 | 41 |
| 40 | Hyundai | 20 | 0.0% | 400.0% | 34 | 182 | 0.0% | 323.3% | 36 | 37 |
| 41 | McLaren | 18 | 0.0% | 80.0% | 45 | 57 | 0.0% | 39.0% | 45 | 45 |
| 42 | Rolls-Royce | 14 | 0.0% | -12.5% | 44 | 76 | 0.0% | -1.3% | 43 | 43 |
| 43 | Alpina | 14 | 0.0% | -30.0% | 43 | 59 | 0.0% | -39.8% | 44 | 42 |
| 44 | Dodge | 13 | 0.0% | -79.0% | 41 | 91 | 0.0% | -51.1% | 42 | 38 |
| 45 | Lamborghini | 5 | 0.0% | -86.1% | 36 | 163 | 0.0% | -19.3% | 37 | 36 |
| 46 | Morgan | 5 | 0.0% | 25.0% | 47 | 14 | 0.0% | 16.7% | 46 | 49 |
| 47 | Lotus | 3 | 0.0% | -90.0% | 48 | 9 | 0.0% | -92.7% | 47 | 44 |
| 48 | MG | 2 | 0.0% | -33.3% | 51 | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 51 | 53 |
| 49 | GMC | 1 | 0.0% | -75.0% | 50 | 7 | 0.0% | -53.3% | 48 | 46 |
| 50 | Pontiac | 1 | 0.0% | -50.0% | – | 4 | 0.0% | -42.9% | 52 | 52 |
| – | Others | 330 | 0.1% | 725.0% | – | 1,798 | 0.1% | 18.0% | – | – |
Japan April 2023 – regular cars:
| Pos | Model | Apr-23 | /22 | Mar | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Toyota Yaris/Cross | 14,143 | 40.8% | 1 | 66,997 | 19.5% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla/Cross | 10,662 | 7.6% | 2 | 61,267 | 16.8% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Toyota Sienta | 9,195 | 120.8% | 4 | 46,326 | 165.4% | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Toyota Prius | 7,838 | 137.2% | 11 | 28,594 | 93.0% | 11 | 20 |
| 5 | Toyota Roomy | 7,811 | -29.7% | 5 | 36,799 | -26.4% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Nissan Note | 7,224 | -11.0% | 3 | 43,975 | 5.7% | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Toyota Noah | 7,020 | 23.2% | 8 | 33,381 | 100.8% | 6 | 11 |
| 8 | Toyota Harrier | 7,004 | 61.9% | 7 | 30,754 | 88.1% | 9 | 18 |
| 9 | Nissan Serena | 6,507 | 112.9% | 19 | 19,907 | -8.6% | 18 | 12 |
| 10 | Toyota Voxy | 6,495 | 38.0% | 10 | 33,017 | 103.2% | 7 | 13 |
| 11 | Toyota Raize | 5,723 | -9.8% | 16 | 22,236 | -38.8% | 13 | 5 |
| 12 | Toyota Aqua | 5,570 | 106.8% | 9 | 31,836 | 17.7% | 8 | 7 |
| 13 | Honda Freed | 5,340 | -4.7% | 6 | 30,411 | 0.1% | 10 | 6 |
| 14 | Toyota Land Cruiser W | 4,549 | 83.9% | 13 | 22,132 | 106.4% | 15 | 17 |
| 15 | Toyota Alphard | 4,073 | -39.2% | 15 | 22,239 | -12.7% | 12 | 10 |
| 16 | Suzuki Solio | 3,750 | 119.8% | 17 | 19,990 | 65.7% | 17 | 15 |
| 17 | Honda Fit | 3,563 | 1.5% | 12 | 22,185 | 2.8% | 14 | 9 |
| 18 | Toyota Crown | 3,119 | 101.6% | 20 | 16,501 | 130.0% | 19 | 31 |
| 19 | Honda Vezel | 2,988 | 9.6% | 18 | 16,042 | -2.0% | 20 | 14 |
| 20 | Mazda CX-5 | 2,746 | 75.7% | 24 | 9,767 | -23.3% | 26 | 21 |
| 21 | Lexus NX350H | 2,699 | 708.1% | 23 | 12,508 | 415.6% | 23 | n/a |
| 22 | Honda StepWGN | 2,346 | 1115.5% | 28 | 11,403 | 62.7% | 24 | 16 |
| 23 | Toyota RAV4 | 2,326 | -1.2% | 14 | 20,931 | 90.5% | 16 | 22 |
| 24 | Toyota Passo | 2,262 | -33.5% | 21 | 13,226 | -3.6% | 22 | 19 |
| 25 | Subaru Impreza | 2,261 | -16.1% | 22 | 10,165 | 42.7% | 25 | 26 |
| 26 | Mazda CX-60 | 2,101 | new | 25 | 13,812 | new | 21 | n/a |
| 27 | Suzuki Swift | 2,085 | 17.7% | 27 | 9,692 | 1.4% | 27 | 23 |
| 28 | Suzuki Jimny Wagon | 2,075 | 56.5% | 33 | 9,023 | 40.9% | 29 | 30 |
| 29 | Daihatsu Rocky | 1,885 | 17.1% | 30 | 8,122 | 0.9% | 30 | 27 |
| 30 | Mazda2 | 1,727 | 53.4% | 29 | 8,045 | -10.5% | 31 | 25 |
| 31 | Nissan X-Trail | 1,697 | 169.4% | 26 | 9,363 | 147.1% | 28 | 29 |
| 32 | Mitsubishi Delica D5 | 1,385 | 168.4% | 34 | 6,819 | 11.5% | 34 | 33 |
| 33 | Mazda CX-8 | 1,313 | 170.7% | 31 | 5,897 | -8.5% | 35 | 39 |
| 34 | Subaru Forester | 1,248 | -20.4% | 36 | 7,288 | -26.4% | 33 | 24 |
| 35 | Mazda3 | 1,220 | 129.3% | 40 | 5,649 | -12.2% | 36 | 36 |
| 36 | Mazda CX-30 | 1,145 | 135.1% | 32 | 7,463 | 15.2% | 32 | 34 |
| 37 | Nissan Kicks | 1,110 | -1.0% | 38 | 4,870 | -52.4% | 42 | 28 |
| 38 | Nissan Ariya | 1,102 | 39.7% | 49 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 39 | Subaru Levorg | 1,055 | 33.2% | 42 | 5,086 | n/a | 41 | 35 |
| 40 | Toyota 86 | 996 | -43.4% | 45 | 4,174 | -30.3% | 45 | 37 |
| 41 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 980 | 18.9% | 43 | 4,796 | -9.1% | 43 | 32 |
| 42 | Lexus RX500H | 965 | new | n/a | n/a | new | n/a | n/a |
| 43 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | 915 | 132.8% | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 50 |
| 44 | Suzuki Xbee | 887 | 7.6% | 39 | 5,213 | 49.8% | 40 | 41 |
| 45 | Nissan Leaf | 851 | 299.5% | 41 | 5,449 | 13.7% | 37 | 40 |
| 46 | Lexus UX250H | 830 | 125.5% | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 47 | Toyota Hiace W | 820 | 0.5% | 48 | 4,110 | 38.5% | 46 | 46 |
| 48 | Toyota C-HR | 813 | -15.9% | 37 | 5,302 | 8.4% | 38 | 42 |
| 49 | Daihatsu Thor | 795 | 0.4% | 44 | 4,618 | 12.0% | 44 | 43 |
| 50 | Honda Civic | 751 | 67.3% | 35 | 5,300 | 67.6% | 39 | 47 |
Japan April 2023 – Kei cars:
| Pos | Model | Apr-23 | /22 | Mar | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Honda N-BOX | 14,986 | -3.0% | 1 | 82,241 | 2.6% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Daihatsu Tanto | 11,981 | 64.8% | 2 | 54,305 | 58.8% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Suzuki Spacia | 10,018 | 31.8% | 3 | 43,134 | 42.7% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Daihatsu Move | 10,010 | 40.7% | 4 | 42,881 | 50.4% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Suzuki Alto | 5,844 | 10.0% | 7 | 25,248 | 3.4% | 7 | 8 |
| 6 | Daihatsu Mira | 5,540 | -9.5% | 9 | 22,199 | -11.4% | 9 | 9 |
| 7 | Daihatsu Taft | 4,992 | 5.5% | 8 | 23,237 | 7.4% | 8 | 10 |
| 8 | Suzuki WagonR | 4,853 | -5.9% | 6 | 27,044 | 0.7% | 6 | 5 |
| 9 | Suzuki Hustler | 4,052 | -39.4% | 12 | 22,135 | -7.3% | 10 | 7 |
| 10 | Nissan Roox | 3,646 | -28.4% | 5 | 30,934 | 23.8% | 5 | 6 |
| 11 | Suzuki Jimny | 3,267 | 30.3% | 13 | 12,984 | -13.8% | 13 | 13 |
| 12 | Nissan Sakura | 2,370 | new | 15 | 13,580 | new | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | Honda N-WGN | 2,247 | -11.5% | 11 | 15,691 | 1.7% | 11 | 12 |
| 14 | Nissan Dayz | 2,134 | -31.7% | 10 | 11,976 | -45.1% | 14 | 11 |
| 15 | Honda N-ONE | 1,377 | -11.6% | 16 | 6,452 | -16.5% | 17 | 16 |
| 16 | Suzuki Every Wagon | 1,328 | 41.1% | 17 | 7,449 | 62.1% | 16 | 18 |
| 17 | Daihatsu Cast | 1,193 | 34.5% | 18 | 5,696 | 30.2% | 18 | 19 |
| 18 | Mitsubishi eK | 1,087 | -44.2% | 14 | 8,583 | -15.9% | 15 | 14 |
| 19 | Toyota Pixis | 1,025 | -33.7% | 21 | 3,546 | -38.6% | 21 | 17 |
| 20 | Mazda Flair Wagon | 993 | 59.6% | 20 | 4,449 | 55.5% | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | Mitsubishi eK Cross EV | 533 | new | 19 | 4,015 | new | 20 | 26 |
| 22 | Mazda Carol | 492 | 68.5% | 23 | 1,713 | 74.3% | 25 | 29 |
| 23 | Daihatsu Copen | 420 | 16.0% | 22 | 2,037 | 23.6% | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | Subaru Chiffon | 381 | 23.3% | 27 | 1,503 | 6.1% | 27 | 25 |
| 25 | Nissan NV100 Clipper Rio | 359 | 67.8% | 24 | 1,876 | 13.0% | 23 | 24 |
| 26 | Mazda Flair | 338 | -11.7% | 25 | 1,517 | -1.5% | 26 | 27 |
| 27 | Mazda Flair Crossover | 336 | -25.2% | 26 | 1,755 | -15.0% | 24 | 22 |
| 28 | Subaru Stella | 218 | -26.4% | 28 | 1,128 | 8.3% | 28 | 28 |
| 29 | Subaru Pleo | 158 | -38.0% | 29 | 840 | -23.8% | 29 | 30 |
| 30 | Toyota Copen GR Sport | 136 | -29.5% | 30 | 566 | -9.6% | 30 | 32 |
| 31 | Mazda Scrum Wagon | 106 | 65.6% | 31 | 437 | -5.0% | 31 | 33 |
| 32 | Mitsubishi Town Box | 46 | 58.6% | 33 | 172 | -9.0% | 32 | 35 |
| 33 | Toyota C+POD | 15 | -90.3% | 32 | 113 | -76.7% | 33 | 34 |
| 34 | Honda S660 | 1 | -99.6% | – | 4 | -99.8% | 34 | 31 |
| 35 | Daihatsu Wake | 0 | -100.0% | 34 | 3 | -99.9% | 35 | 21 |
Sources: JADA, JAIA, JMVA
