Kei Car Sales (By Brand) : 2015-19

The Daihatsu Tanto is a popular kei model

As mentioned in part one of the series, benefits for kei car ownership were scales back, and the percentage they commanded slipped from 42% to 38%. Not a seismic shift by any means but still noticeable. The two brands with most to lose slightly lessened their dependence on such models.

In 2019, Had two models in excess of 100,000 registrations (the Tanto & Move), while Suzuki only got one (the Spacia). Honda had its N-Box exceeding a quarter of a million sales and the Nissan Dayz went over the 150,000 mark.

Toyota has a small interest in the kei category, it still seems happy to leave that to its subsidiary brand Daihatsu. As for Toyota's four separate chains of car dealers, that's going to change as the size of the market continues to fall. Their ranges will be be more integrated to save on cost.

I presume the Suzuki Spacio is spacious within

The kei car remains a popular car in Japan. I can see that as a diminutive car in a congested city the logic of ownership. The fact they make them look funky as well no doubt adds to the appeal. I could see them having some export potential and they have on occasion done OK in that regard. The fact that they take over a third of total sales is impressive, even allowing for incentives.

Brand / Year	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Daihatsu	464,148	460,667	459,783	439,886	466,517
Kei %	91	93	94	98	100
Suzuki	433,499	441,098	410,785	379,278	427,233
Kei %	78	78	79	79	85
Honda	304,191	325,370	314,830	303,353	317,166
Kei %	46	46	45	44	45
Nissan	161,894	145,853	141,333	114,955	175,623
Kei %	35	29	29	26	36
Mitsubishi	45,595	45,929	43,424	37,436	47,815
Kei %	50	50	55	52	55
Mazda	29,238	32,873	29,929	29,581	34,570
Kei %	16	17	16	17	16
Subaru	15,892	18,218	20,935	19,360	23,567
Kei %	13	13	13	14	16
Toyota	24,669	25,627	22,284	21,061	18,554
Kei %	2	2	2	2	1
Total	1,479,455	1,495,961	1,443,635	1,345,240	1,511,398
Kei %	37	37	35	35	38

In following the boxy kei car theme of late, the Nissan Dayz.
It left me dazed too.