Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi & Lexus Top Selling Models (in Japan) : 2020

This is a series looking at all Japanese branded models that exceed 7,000 sales considered brand by brand and this is #4. There are many strong selling domestic models in Japan, as we shall see. 

The top selling list is dominated by the diminutive Kei car class. Kei cars account for over a third of all sales, are exclusively local and there aren't that many of them in terms of choice. That is why they are the biggest selling models. 

Mazda is the 6th most popular brand and not one model can reach 30,000 sales. However, the range it does have sells quite evenly. The small 2 model just pipped the new CX-30 compact crossover. The CX-30 slots between the CX-3 and CX-5 but isn't called the CX-4 due to already having a model China sold as such. Its lack of a strong Kei range doesn't help. 

Much of what was said about Mazda applies here. No big selling models but volume among models is similar. Low Kei penetration too at 12.7%, obtaining then from Daihatsu but they sell in small numbers.

Its range seems more focused on overseas markets and export success. It clearly has a small but loyal following locally but with what it has on offer, it's achieving all it can domestically.

Mitsubishi doesn't have much popularity at home, ranking a lowly 8th. Sales revolve around the two eK Kei models it makes for itself and also for Nissan in the form of the Dayz and Roox. 

Apart from that the Delica D:5 MPV van is modestly well received. Models such as the Eclipse Cross, Outlander, Mirage and RVR sell in too low a number to register here. I find that surprising. 

Lexus started in 1989 as an export brand to the USA but locally the models were sold under the Toyota brand. It wasn't until 2005 that it entered the domestic scene as a brand in its own right. 

Sales have steadily improved but taking market share from established premium marques has been a challenge. Sales are spread across the range quite evenly.

Daihatsu & Nissan Top Selling Models (in Japan) : 2020

The Daihatsu Move Canbus

                                                                                                                               This is a series looking at all Japanese branded models that exceed 7,000 sales considered brand by brand and this is #3. There are many strong selling domestic models in Japan, as we shall see. 

The top selling list is dominated by the diminutive Kei car class. Kei cars account for over a third of all sales, are exclusively local and there aren't that many of them in terms of choice. That is why they are the biggest selling models. 

I'm a fan of Daihatsu cars. Practical and reliable as you can get. The Tanto is the best selling model and with 88% of sales Kei cars, obviously this is of that type. The boxy hatchback style is immensely popular in Japan. The Mira e:S is also a hatch but squat in comparison. The Move Canbus minivan is well, novel.  The Move is somewhere in between the two previous models. The Taft crossover is another boxy Kei offering.

One may have thought Nissan would do better in its home market but no model reaches 100,000 sales. The Dayz Hatchback tops the list ahead of the new mini MPV Rooz (formerly the Dayz Rooz, see below), the latter is the current Kei car of the year. 

With 'just' 43% of sales in the Kei category, regular cars have to take on dominant Toyota. The Note hatchback does quite well but the 72,000 sales are down on the nearly 140,000 a few years ago. The medium sized Serena MPV is a successful model, the model line started life back in 1991. Electric Leaf sales are down on where they have been recently.

Honda & Suzuki Top Selling Models (in Japan) : 2020

This is a series looking at all Japanese branded models that exceed 7,000 sales considered brand by brand and this is #2. There are many strong selling domestic models in Japan, as we shall see. 

The top selling list is dominated by the diminutive Kei car class. Kei cars account for over a third of all sales, are exclusively local and there aren't that many of them in terms of choice. That is why they are the biggest selling models. 

Honda is very much into Kei cars, about half of total sales in Japan. The boxy hatchback N-Box accounts for over a third of sales alone. It does seem too reliant on one model but as long as it delivers it's a valuable part of the range. The N-Wagon is another popular model in the Kei genre. 

As for 'normal' cars the small hatchback Fit (Jazz) and the small MPV Freed (pic above) have a loyal following but the sales for the Civic are surprisingly low. 

Suzuki is known for making small vehicles so 79% of sales Kei cars is what you would expect. 

The boxy hatchback Spacia has the same role for Suzuki what the N-Box does for Honda. The boxy SUV Hustler and tiny Wagon-R hatchback also do very well. Vehicles like this push the brand past companies less reliant on the Kei category. 

The Solio is an upsized Spacia so is a regular model. The Swift small hatchback is modestly popular at 28.000 sales. To take any sales off Toyota is a feat in Japan. The Xbee (pic below) is a small crossover that has only been around since 2018 but sales are looking a little sad after some promise. The models not listed are tiny sellers.