Lexus triples its sales year-on-year in March.
March is always a strong month for Japanese new vehicle sales as it is the end of the financial year and manufacturers rush to meet targets. Sales are up 11.6% year-on-year this month to 572,494 units, leading to a Q1 tally up 15.4% to 1,381,558. Remember March 2022 was off -16.3% on the year prior. Toyota (+22.4%) once again posts a very solid result, doubling its home market’s growth. Honda (-1.9%) jumps two spots on February to #2, leapfrogging past Suzuki (+5.1%) and Daihatsu (+18.9%). Lexus (+204.9%) is on a very impressive roll at #8 as is Isuzu (+102%). All remaining Top 10 members trail the market, with Subaru (-8.3%) the worst hit followed by Mitsubishi (+1.6%) and Mazda (+7%). Further down the charts, Land Rover (+134.3%), Jeep (+98.5%), Audi (+68.6%), Citroen (+42.9%) and Peugeot (+40.7%) are among the biggest gainers. Notice also BYD up 8 ranks on last month to #28 but with a tiny 0.03% market share.
In the regular cars ranking, the Toyota Yaris/Cross (+28%) and Toyota Corolla/Cross (+24%) keep the leas with splendid gains with the Nissan Note (+5.6%) climbing onto the podium despite a shy year-on-year uptick. The Toyota Sienta (+128.3%) surges ahead while the Toyota Roomy (-25.4%) closes out the Top 5 like last month. The Honda Freed (-3.6%) is the only additional non-Toyota near the top as the #1 manufacturer in the country places 9 models in the Top 11, and 13 in the Top 16. The remainder of the Top 11 all outpace the market with double-digit gains. The Toyota Prius (+86.2%) is the most dynamic thanks to a new generation, ahead of the Harrier (+66.5%), Noah (+55.9%), Voxy (+42.1%) and Aqua (+33.9%). In order of sales, the Toyota Land Cruiser W (+132.5%), Crown (+111.8%), Subaru Impreza (+106.9%), Lexus NX350H (+985.4%), Nissan X-Trail (+146.2%) and Honda StepWGN (+113.3%) shine below.
Over in the kei car aisle, the Honda N-BOX (+8.9%) is once again #1 and also the best-selling vehicle in the country (as it sells more than the Toyota Yaris/Cross). The Daihatsu Tanto (+52.3%) surges ahead to stay in 2nd place while the Suzuki Spacia (+29.5%) overtakes the Daihatsu Move (+52%). The Nissan Roox (-23.1%) is in a rut but manages to stay at #5. The Daihatsu Taft (+16.7%) is the only remaining Top 10 kei car to beat the market, whereas the Nissan Dayz (-22.1%), Daihatsu Mira (-19.1%), Suzuki Wagon R (-15.2%) and Alto (-2.9%) all falter. Illustrating the slow take up of EVs in Japan, the Nissan Sakura ranks #15 and the Mitsubishi eK Cross EV ranks #19.
Previous month: Japan February 2023: Toyota (+48%), Lexus (+234.9%) in market up 20.3%
One year ago: Japan March 2022: Nissan (-6.9%), Honda (-8.2%) resist in market down another 16.3%
Full March 2023 Top 50 All brands, Top 50 regular cars and Top 35 All kei cars below.
Japan March 2023 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Mar-23 | % | /22 | Feb | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Toyota | 195,488 | 34.1% | 22.4% | 1 | 465,710 | 33.7% | 27.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Honda | 72,097 | 12.6% | -1.9% | 4 | 167,008 | 12.1% | -4.2% | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Suzuki | 67,950 | 11.9% | 5.1% | 2 | 181,260 | 13.1% | 15.6% | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Daihatsu | 67,512 | 11.8% | 18.9% | 3 | 176,285 | 12.8% | 18.0% | 3 | 3 |
| 5 | Nissan | 60,315 | 10.5% | -6.3% | 5 | 144,207 | 10.4% | 3.6% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Mazda | 24,221 | 4.2% | 7.0% | 6 | 57,294 | 4.1% | 6.0% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Subaru | 12,350 | 2.2% | -8.3% | 9 | 28,543 | 2.1% | 9.0% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Lexus | 12,329 | 2.2% | 204.9% | 7 | 28,137 | 2.0% | 141.8% | 9 | 12 |
| 9 | Mitsubishi | 11,896 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 8 | 28,258 | 2.0% | 5.8% | 8 | 8 |
| 10 | Isuzu | 9,324 | 1.6% | 102.0% | 10 | 19,071 | 1.4% | 80.5% | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 5,763 | 1.0% | 3.4% | 11 | 13,133 | 1.0% | 2.6% | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Hino | 4,998 | 0.9% | -28.2% | 12 | 10,931 | 0.8% | -29.9% | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Fuso | 4,133 | 0.7% | 44.6% | 14 | 8,717 | 0.6% | 24.2% | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | BMW | 3,813 | 0.7% | 11.5% | 13 | 8,436 | 0.6% | 11.3% | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | 2,990 | 0.5% | -3.5% | 16 | 6,644 | 0.5% | -10.9% | 15 | 13 |
| 16 | Audi | 2,678 | 0.5% | 68.6% | 15 | 6,571 | 0.5% | 48.8% | 16 | 16 |
| 17 | Mini | 2,492 | 0.4% | -3.7% | 18 | 4,616 | 0.3% | -8.6% | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Volvo | 1,892 | 0.3% | -2.5% | 17 | 4,240 | 0.3% | 9.5% | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | Jeep | 1,348 | 0.2% | 98.5% | 19 | 2,950 | 0.2% | 47.1% | 19 | 19 |
| 20 | UD Trucks | 1,240 | 0.2% | 12.0% | 21 | 2,675 | 0.2% | 21.3% | 20 | 20 |
| 21 | Renault | 1,196 | 0.2% | 24.3% | 22 | 2,529 | 0.2% | 16.0% | 21 | 21 |
| 22 | Peugeot | 1,103 | 0.2% | 40.7% | 23 | 2,520 | 0.2% | 21.7% | 22 | 22 |
| 23 | Land Rover | 1,092 | 0.2% | 134.3% | 25 | 2,038 | 0.1% | 60.6% | 24 | 26 |
| 24 | Citroen | 853 | 0.1% | 42.9% | 24 | 1,743 | 0.1% | 23.9% | 25 | 25 |
| 25 | Porsche | 802 | 0.1% | -2.7% | 20 | 2,066 | 0.1% | -1.7% | 23 | 23 |
| 26 | Fiat | 484 | 0.1% | -39.4% | 26 | 1,108 | 0.1% | -41.0% | 26 | 24 |
| 27 | Alfa Romeo | 264 | 0.0% | 15.8% | 28 | 486 | 0.0% | 3.4% | 27 | 28 |
| 28 | BYD | 159 | 0.0% | new | 36 | 252 | 0.0% | #DIV/0! | 31 | 48 |
| 29 | Abarth | 155 | 0.0% | -66.5% | 34 | 291 | 0.0% | -64.7% | 29 | 27 |
| 30 | Ferrari | 146 | 0.0% | -10.4% | 29 | 340 | 0.0% | 3.0% | 28 | 29 |
| 31 | Maserati | 133 | 0.0% | -18.9% | 30 | 263 | 0.0% | -14.3% | 30 | 30 |
| 32 | Chevrolet | 109 | 0.0% | 34.6% | 35 | 222 | 0.0% | 23.3% | 32 | 34 |
| 33 | Cadillac | 76 | 0.0% | -44.5% | 31 | 201 | 0.0% | -6.1% | 34 | 32 |
| 34 | Hyundai | 60 | 0.0% | n/a | 32 | 162 | 0.0% | 315.4% | 36 | 37 |
| 35 | Aston Martin | 59 | 0.0% | 28.3% | 41 | 117 | 0.0% | 31.5% | 38 | 40 |
| 36 | Lamborghini | 58 | 0.0% | -23.7% | 33 | 158 | 0.0% | -4.8% | 37 | 36 |
| 37 | Jaguar | 56 | 0.0% | -62.4% | 37 | 203 | 0.0% | -48.1% | 33 | 31 |
| 38 | Scania | 48 | 0.0% | 20.0% | 43 | 85 | 0.0% | 18.1% | 40 | 41 |
| 39 | DS | 42 | 0.0% | -32.3% | 27 | 181 | 0.0% | 23.1% | 35 | 33 |
| 40 | Bentley | 34 | 0.0% | -24.4% | 38 | 101 | 0.0% | -9.0% | 39 | 35 |
| 41 | Dodge | 31 | 0.0% | -43.6% | 40 | 78 | 0.0% | -37.1% | 41 | 38 |
| 42 | Ford | 27 | 0.0% | -42.6% | 39 | 78 | 0.0% | -36.1% | 42 | 39 |
| 43 | Alpina | 22 | 0.0% | -35.3% | 44 | 45 | 0.0% | -42.3% | 44 | 42 |
| 44 | Rolls-Royce | 20 | 0.0% | -13.0% | 42 | 62 | 0.0% | 1.6% | 43 | 43 |
| 45 | McLaren | 11 | 0.0% | -15.4% | 45 | 39 | 0.0% | 25.8% | 45 | 45 |
| 46 | Chrysler | 4 | 0.0% | 33.3% | – | 4 | 0.0% | -33.3% | 49 | 50 |
| 47 | Morgan | 1 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 46 | 9 | 0.0% | 12.5% | 46 | 49 |
| 48 | Lotus | 1 | 0.0% | -96.9% | – | 6 | 0.0% | -93.6% | 47 | 44 |
| 49 | Buick | 1 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 49 | 5 | 0.0% | 25.0% | 48 | 54 |
| 50 | GMC | 1 | 0.0% | -80.0% | – | 4 | 0.0% | -63.6% | 50 | 46 |
| 51 | MG | 1 | 0.0% | 0.0% | – | 2 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 53 | 53 |
| – | Others | 616 | 0.1% | -50.1% | – | 1,468 | 0.1% | -1.1% | – | – |
Japan March 2023 – regular cars:
| Pos | Model | Mar-23 | /22 | Feb | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Toyota Yaris/Cross | 22,322 | 28.0% | 1 | 52,854 | 14.8% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla/Cross | 21,404 | 24.0% | 2 | 50,605 | 18.9% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Nissan Note | 16,167 | 5.6% | 4 | 36,751 | 9.8% | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Toyota Sienta | 14,326 | 128.3% | 3 | 37,131 | 179.5% | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | Toyota Roomy | 12,669 | -25.4% | 5 | 28,988 | -25.5% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Honda Freed | 12,192 | -3.6% | 11 | 25,071 | 1.2% | 9 | 6 |
| 7 | Toyota Harrier | 11,028 | 66.5% | 9 | 23,750 | 97.5% | 10 | 18 |
| 8 | Toyota Noah | 10,984 | 55.9% | 7 | 26,361 | 141.3% | 7 | 11 |
| 9 | Toyota Aqua | 10,945 | 33.9% | 8 | 26,266 | 7.9% | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Toyota Voxy | 10,931 | 42.1% | 6 | 26,522 | 129.9% | 6 | 13 |
| 11 | Toyota Prius | 9,861 | 86.2% | 10 | 20,756 | 80.3% | 11 | 20 |
| 12 | Honda Fit | 9,099 | 7.6% | 15 | 18,622 | 3.1% | 12 | 9 |
| 13 | Toyota Land Cruiser W | 7,994 | 132.5% | 14 | 17,583 | 113.2% | 15 | 17 |
| 14 | Toyota RAV4 | 7,267 | 93.9% | 12 | 18,605 | 115.5% | 13 | 22 |
| 15 | Toyota Alphard | 6,808 | -29.0% | 13 | 18,166 | -3.3% | 14 | 10 |
| 16 | Toyota Raize | 6,657 | -42.7% | 16 | 16,513 | -45.0% | 16 | 5 |
| 17 | Suzuki Solio | 6,606 | 73.0% | 17 | 16,240 | 56.8% | 17 | 15 |
| 18 | Honda Vezel | 5,762 | 4.4% | 20 | 13,054 | -4.3% | 20 | 14 |
| 19 | Nissan Serena | 5,350 | -33.3% | 18 | 13,400 | -28.4% | 18 | 12 |
| 20 | Toyota Crown | 5,303 | 111.8% | 21 | 13,382 | 137.8% | 19 | 31 |
| 21 | Toyota Passo | 4,967 | -2.3% | 23 | 10,964 | 6.2% | 22 | 19 |
| 22 | Subaru Impreza | 4,778 | 106.9% | 33 | 7,904 | 78.5% | 25 | 26 |
| 23 | Lexus NX350H | 4,624 | 985.4% | 22 | 9,809 | 368.9% | 23 | n/a |
| 24 | Mazda CX-5 | 4,384 | -17.9% | 40 | 7,021 | -37.1% | 28 | 21 |
| 25 | Mazda CX-60 | 4,313 | new | 19 | 11,711 | new | 21 | n/a |
| 26 | Nissan X-Trail | 3,533 | 146.2% | 25 | 7,666 | 142.7% | 26 | 29 |
| 27 | Suzuki Swift | 3,359 | 2.2% | 26 | 7,607 | -2.3% | 27 | 23 |
| 28 | Honda StepWGN | 3,052 | 113.3% | 24 | 9,057 | 32.9% | 24 | 16 |
| 29 | Mazda2 | 2,685 | -9.9% | 31 | 6,318 | -19.7% | 31 | 25 |
| 30 | Daihatsu Rocky | 2,616 | 7.1% | 29 | 6,237 | -3.1% | 32 | 27 |
| 31 | Mazda CX-8 | 2,565 | 15.4% | 47 | 4,584 | -23.1% | 36 | 39 |
| 32 | Mazda CX-30 | 2,467 | 15.7% | 27 | 6,318 | 5.5% | 30 | 34 |
| 33 | Suzuki Jimny Wagon | 2,377 | -1.0% | 28 | 6,948 | 36.9% | 29 | 30 |
| 34 | Mitsubishi Delica D5 | 2,284 | -20.0% | 32 | 5,434 | -3.0% | 34 | 33 |
| 35 | Honda Civic | 2,253 | 125.3% | 37 | 4,549 | 67.6% | 37 | 47 |
| 36 | Subaru Forester | 1,950 | -61.7% | 30 | 6,040 | -27.5% | 33 | 24 |
| 37 | Toyota C-HR | 1,853 | -9.1% | 34 | 4,489 | 14.5% | 38 | 42 |
| 38 | Nissan Kicks | 1,852 | -44.9% | 42 | 3,760 | -58.7% | 44 | 28 |
| 39 | Suzuki Xbee | 1,760 | 52.4% | 36 | 4,326 | 62.9% | 40 | 41 |
| 40 | Mazda3 | 1,754 | -38.5% | 35 | 4,429 | -24.9% | 39 | 36 |
| 41 | Nissan Leaf | 1,715 | -1.9% | 38 | 4,598 | 0.4% | 35 | 40 |
| 42 | Subaru Levorg | 1,516 | -14.6% | 46 | 4,031 | n/a | 41 | 35 |
| 43 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 1,481 | 45.5% | n/a | 3,816 | -14.3% | 43 | 32 |
| 44 | Daihatsu Thor | 1,448 | 2.8% | 39 | 3,823 | 14.7% | 42 | 43 |
| 45 | Toyota 86 | 1,418 | -17.1% | 43 | 3,178 | -24.8% | 47 | 37 |
| 46 | Lexus NX250 | 1,392 | 4871.4% | 41 | 3,321 | 1325.3% | 45 | n/a |
| 47 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | 1,390 | -14.4% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 50 | |
| 48 | Toyota Hiace W | 1,288 | 31.6% | 45 | 3,290 | 52.9% | 46 | 46 |
| 49 | Nissan Ariya | 1,101 | 59.8% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 50 | Lexus UX250H | 1,093 | 115.6% | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Japan March 2023 – kei cars:
| Pos | Model | Mar-23 | /22 | Feb | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Honda N-BOX | 27,811 | 8.9% | 1 | 67,255 | 3.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Daihatsu Tanto | 15,251 | 52.3% | 2 | 42,324 | 57.1% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Suzuki Spacia | 13,137 | 29.5% | 4 | 33,116 | 46.4% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Daihatsu Move | 12,592 | 52.0% | 3 | 32,871 | 53.6% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Nissan Roox | 10,192 | -23.1% | 5 | 27,288 | 37.1% | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Suzuki WagonR | 7,735 | -15.2% | 6 | 22,191 | 2.3% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Suzuki Alto | 7,476 | -2.9% | 7 | 19,404 | 1.5% | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Daihatsu Taft | 7,392 | 16.7% | 8 | 18,245 | 8.0% | 8 | 10 |
| 9 | Daihatsu Mira | 6,605 | -19.1% | 10 | 16,659 | -12.0% | 9 | 9 |
| 10 | Nissan Dayz | 5,583 | -22.1% | 15 | 9,842 | -47.4% | 10 | 11 |
| 11 | Honda N-WGN | 5,558 | -4.1% | 11 | 13,444 | 4.3% | 11 | 12 |
| 12 | Suzuki Hustler | 5,292 | -24.0% | 9 | 18,083 | 5.3% | 12 | 7 |
| 13 | Suzuki Jimny | 3,859 | -25.5% | 13 | 9,717 | -22.6% | 13 | 13 |
| 14 | Mitsubishi eK | 2,995 | -23.6% | 14 | 7,496 | -9.3% | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Nissan Sakura | 2,888 | new | 12 | 11,210 | new | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Honda N-ONE | 2,254 | -17.5% | 17 | 5,075 | -17.7% | 16 | 16 |
| 17 | Suzuki Every Wagon | 2,008 | 85.4% | 16 | 6,121 | 67.6% | 17 | 18 |
| 18 | Daihatsu Cast | 1,637 | 35.5% | 18 | 4,503 | 29.1% | 18 | 19 |
| 19 | Mitsubishi eK Cross EV | 1,544 | new | 20 | 3,482 | new | 19 | 26 |
| 20 | Mazda Flair Wagon | 1,164 | 25.7% | 19 | 3,456 | 54.4% | 20 | 20 |
| 21 | Toyota Pixis | 1,006 | -37.7% | 21 | 2,521 | -40.5% | 21 | 17 |
| 22 | Daihatsu Copen | 608 | 13.9% | 24 | 1,617 | 25.7% | 22 | 23 |
| 23 | Mazda Carol | 535 | 49.0% | 26 | 1,221 | 76.7% | 23 | 29 |
| 24 | Nissan NV100 Clipper Rio | 500 | -14.7% | 23 | 1,517 | 4.9% | 24 | 24 |
| 25 | Mazda Flair | 440 | -11.8% | 25 | 1,179 | 1.9% | 25 | 27 |
| 26 | Mazda Flair Crossover | 363 | -49.5% | 22 | 1,419 | -12.2% | 26 | 22 |
| 27 | Subaru Chiffon | 359 | -24.1% | 27 | 1,122 | 1.4% | 27 | 25 |
| 28 | Subaru Stella | 348 | 2.4% | 28 | 910 | 22.0% | 28 | 28 |
| 29 | Subaru Pleo | 264 | -23.0% | 29 | 682 | -19.6% | 29 | 30 |
| 30 | Toyota Copen GR Sport | 197 | 11.3% | 30 | 430 | -0.7% | 30 | 32 |
| 31 | Mazda Scrum Wagon | 88 | -43.2% | 31 | 331 | -16.4% | 31 | 33 |
| 32 | Toyota C+POD | 50 | -62.1% | 33 | 98 | -70.5% | 32 | 34 |
| 33 | Mitsubishi Town Box | 43 | -27.1% | 32 | 126 | -21.3% | 33 | 35 |
| 34 | Daihatsu Wake | 1 | -99.9% | 35 | 3 | -99.9% | 34 | 21 |
| 35 | Honda S660 | 0 | -100.0% | 34 | 3 | -99.9% | 35 | 31 |
Sources: JADA, JAIA, JMVA
