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[[Image:Flag_of_Japan.svg|right|thumb|300|[[Japan]] (''Nippon'')]]
<!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[Japan]] is the world's second largest [[automobile]] manufacturer and exporter, after the [[United States]], and has six of the world's ten largest automobile manufacturers. In addition to its massive automobile industry, Japan also is the home to manufacturers of other types of vehicles, like [[powersports]] vehicle manufacturers [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] and [[Yamaha]], and heavy equipment manufacturers [[Kubota]], [[Komatsu]], and [[Hitachi]].
[[File:1968 Toyota Corolla 1100 Deluxe.jpg|right|thumb|First generation [[Toyota Corolla]] (1966), the world's all-time best selling line of cars; in its 12th generation as of 2023]]
[[File:Toyota-mirai-2021-009.jpg|thumb|[[Toyota Mirai]], Toyota's hydrogen-fueled vehicle]]

The '''automotive industry in Japan''' is one of the most prominent and largest industries in the world. [[Japan]] has been in the top three of the [[List of countries by motor vehicle production|countries with the most cars manufactured]] since the 1960s, surpassing Germany. The [[automotive industry]] in Japan rapidly increased from the 1970s to the 1990s (when it was oriented both for domestic use and worldwide export) and in the 1980s and 1990s, overtook the U.S. as the production leader with up to 13 million cars per year manufactured and significant exports. After massive ramp-up by China in the 2000s and fluctuating U.S. output, Japan is currently the third largest automotive producer in the world with an annual production of 9.9 million automobiles in 2012.<ref>''Toyota raises profits forecast as recovery continues'', BBC News, 7 February 2012 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16923619</ref> Japanese investments helped grow the auto industry in many countries throughout the last few decades.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

Japanese business conglomerates began building their first automobiles in the middle to late 1910s. The companies went about this by either designing their own trucks (the market for passenger vehicles in Japan at the time was small), or partnering with a [[Europe]]an brand to produce and sell their cars in Japan under license. Such examples of this are [[Isuzu]] partnering with [[Wolseley Motors]] (UK), [[Nissan]] partnering with British automaker [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]], and the [[Mitsubishi Model A]], which was based upon the [[Fiat]] Tipo 3. The demand for domestic trucks was greatly increased by the Japanese military buildup before [[World War II]], causing many Japanese manufacturers to break out of their shells and design their own vehicles. In the 1970s Japan was the pioneer in the use of [[robotics]] in the manufacturing of vehicles.

The country is home to a number of companies that produce cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, [[All-terrain vehicle|ATVs]], and engines. Japanese automotive manufacturers include [[Toyota]], [[Honda]], [[Daihatsu]], [[Nissan]], [[Suzuki]], [[Mazda]], [[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]], [[Subaru]], [[Isuzu]], [[Hino Motors|Hino]], [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]], [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], and [[Mitsuoka]]. [[Infiniti]], [[Acura]], and [[Lexus]] are luxury brands of Nissan, Honda and Toyota, respectively.

Cars designed in Japan have won the [[European Car of the Year]], [[International Car of the Year]], and [[World Car of the Year]] awards many times. Japanese vehicles have had worldwide influence, and no longer have the stigma they had in the 1950s and 1960s when they first emerged internationally, due to a dedicated focus on continual product and process improvement led by Toyota as well as the use of the [[Five Whys]] technique and the early adoption of the [[Lean Six Sigma]] methodology. Japanese cars are also built in compliance with Japanese Government [[Vehicle size class#Japan|dimension regulations]] and engine displacement is further regulated by [[Road tax#Japan|road tax bracket]] regulations, which also affects any imported cars sold in Japan.


==History==
==History==


===1900s to 1950s===
===Early years===
In 1904, [https://www.jahfa.jp/en/inductees/090ToraoYamaba.html Torao Yamaha] produced the first domestically manufactured bus, which was powered by a steam engine. In 1907, Komanosuke Uchiyama<ref>{{Cite web |title=TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE {{!}} 75 Years of TOYOTA {{!}} Part1 Chapter2 Section1 {{!}} Item 3. Domestic Automotive Production-the Demise of Kwaishinsha and Hakuyosha |url=https://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/text/taking_on_the_automotive_business/chapter2/section1/item3.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.toyota-global.com}}</ref> produced the Takuri, the first entirely Japanese-made gasoline engine car. The Kunisue Automobile Works built the Kunisue in 1910, and the following year manufactured the ''Tokyo'' in cooperation with Tokyo Motor Vehicles Ltd. In 1911, [[Kaishinsha Motorcar Works]] was established and later began manufacturing a car called the DAT. In 1920, Jitsuyo Jidosha Seizo Co., founded by William R. Gorham, began building the Gorham and later the Lila. The company merged with Kaishinsha in 1926 to form the DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co. (later to evolve into [[Nissan Motors]]). From 1924 to 1927, Hakuyosha Ironworks Ltd. built the [[Otomo (automobile)|Otomo]]. [[Toyota]], a textile manufacturer, began building cars in 1936. Most early vehicles, however, were trucks produced under military subsidy. Isuzu, [[Yanmar]] and [[Daihatsu]] initially focused on [[diesel engine]] development.
Japanese ''[[zaibatsu]]'' (business conglomerates) began building their first automobiles in the middle to late [[1910s]]. The companies went about this by either designing their own trucks (the market for passenger vehicles in Japan at the time was small), or partnering with a [[Europe]]an brand to produce and sell their cars in Japan under license. Such examples of this are [[Isuzu]] partnering with [[Wolseley Motor Company]] (UK), and the [[Mitsubishi Model A]], which was based upon the [[Fiat]] Tipo 3. The demand for domestic trucks was greatly increased by the Japanese buildup to war before [[World War II]], and thus caused many Japanese manufacturers to break out of their shells and design their own vehicles.


[[File:Mitsubishi Model A.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mitsubishi Model A]] was produced in 1917.]]
During the [[Korean War]] ([[1950]]-[[1953]]), the United States government commissioned Japanese automobile manufacturers to produce army trucks. This was advantageous due to Japan's proximity to [[Korea]], and the United States had close ties to Japan because the country was still under [[Occupied Japan|Allied occupation]] since the end of World War II. These army truck commissions led to enormous growth in Japan's auto industry, leading to the boom of Japanese cars during the [[1960s]].


Cars built in Japan before [[World War II]] tended to be based on European or American models. The 1917 [[Mitsubishi Model A]] was based on the [[Fiat]] A3-3 design. (This model was considered to be the first mass-produced car in Japan, with 22 units produced.) In the 1930s, [[Nissan Motors]]' cars were based on the [[Austin 7]] and [[Graham-Paige]] designs, while the [[Toyota AA]] model was based on the [[Chrysler Airflow]]. [[Ohta Jidosha|Ohta]] built cars in the 1930s based on Ford models, while [[Isuzu|Chiyoda]] and [[Isuzu|Sumida]], a predecessor of Isuzu, built cars resembling [[General Motors]] products [[Chevrolet Master|1935 Pontiac]], and 1930s [[LaSalle (automobile)|LaSalle]].<ref>''The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles'' by David Burgess Wise; Wellfleet Press; Secaucus, New Jersey 1992 {{ISBN|1-55521-808-3}}</ref><ref>''Automobiles of the World'' by Joseph H. Wherry; Chilton Book Company; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1968</ref>
From its beginnings, nearly all of the Japanese automakers were associated with ''[[zaibatsu]]'', or later ''[[keiretsu]]''. In the post-war period, these large companies had close ties with the government, who urged them to absorb all of the smaller car makers into large brands that could be marketed internationally. [[Nissan]] ([[Datsun]] at the time) was a prime example, taking control of [[Prince Motor Company]] and many other smaller companies to form a large brand. [[Mitsubishi Motors]] was a part of a large ''keiretsu'' as well. However, one of the lone exceptions of the time was [[Honda]]. The company was formed as a tiny firm, and had (and still has) experienced no major takeovers or mergers.


Automobile manufacture from Japanese companies was struggling, despite investment efforts by the Japanese Government. The [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake]] devastated most of Japan's fledgling infrastructure and truck and construction equipment manufacturing benefited from recovery efforts. [[Yanase (car dealership)|Yanase & Co., Ltd.]] (株式会社ヤナセ Yanase [[Kabushiki gaisha]]) was an importer of American-made cars to Japan and contributed to disaster recovery efforts by importing [[GMC (automobile)|GMC]] trucks and construction equipment. By bringing in American products, Japanese manufacturers were able to examine the imported vehicles and develop their own products.
During the massive expansion of many Japanese companies after WWII, many of the automakers sought to expand into other markets, mainly the US. In 1957, the first Japanese car to be imported to the United States was the [[Toyota Crown]], followed by the 1958 [[Datsun]] 1000(PL210).


Transportation and mobilization in the early 1900s was largely monopolized by the Japanese Government's [[Japanese Government Railways|Ministry of Railways]], and private automobile companies emerged to further modernize the transportation infrastructure.
===1960s to Today===
During the 1960s, Japanese automakers launched a bevy of new ''[[kei cars]]'' in their domestic market. These tiny automobiles usually featured very small engines (from 360cc to 600cc) to keep taxes much lower than larger cars. The average person in Japan was now able to afford an automobile, which boosted sales dramatically and jumpstarted the auto industry toward becoming what it is today. The first of this new era, actually launched in [[1958]], was the [[Subaru 360]]. It was known as the "Lady Beetle", comparing it's significance to the [[Volkswagen Beetle]] in [[Germany]]. Other significant models were the [[Mitsubishi 500]], [[Mazda Carol]], and the [[Honda N360]].


From 1925 until the beginning of World War II, [[Ford Motor Company#Ford of Japan|Ford]] and [[List of General Motors factories#Former factories|GM]]<ref>[http://www.autonews.com/article/20080914/ANA03/809150388/gm-had-early-start-in-japan-but-was-hobbled-by-nationalism GM early history in Japan]</ref> had factories in the country and they dominated the Japanese market. The [[Ford Motor Company]] of Japan was established in 1925 and a production plant was set up in Yokohama. [[General Motors]] established operations in Osaka in 1927. [[Chrysler]] also came to Japan and set up Kyoritsu Motors.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Kyoritsu|url=http://www.kyoritsu-seiki.com/eng/profile/profile.html|website=Kyoritsu Seiki Co. Ltd.|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> Between 1925 and 1936, the [[United States]] [[Big Three (automobile manufacturers)|Big Three]] automakers' Japanese subsidiaries produced a total of 208,967 vehicles, compared to the domestic producers total of 12,127 vehicles. In 1936, the Japanese government passed the Automobile Manufacturing Industry Law, which was intended to promote the domestic auto industry and reduce foreign competition; ironically, this stopped the groundbreaking of an integrated Ford plant in Yokohama, modeled on [[Ford Dagenham|Dagenham]] in England and intended to serve the Asian market, that would have established Japan as a major exporter{{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source; American cars were not reliable enough to compete with the Japanese demands and culture.|date=July 2012}}. Instead by 1939, the foreign manufacturers had been forced out of Japan. Under the direction of the Imperial Japanese Government, the fledgling vehicle production efforts were redirected to heavy duty truck production due to the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] and the [[Isuzu TX]] was the result of three Japanese companies combining efforts to manufacture a standardized, military grade heavy duty truck.<ref>''Cars of the Thirties and Forties'' by Michael Sedgwick; Crescent Books; {{ISBN|978-0-517-32051-8}}</ref><ref>"Remade in Japan" ''Los Angeles Times'' June 6, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-02-fi-11017-story.html</ref>
Rapidly increasing domestic demand and the expansion of Japanese car companies into foreign markets in the [[1970s]] further accelerated growth. Automobile production in Japan continued to increase rapidly after the 1970s, as Mitsubishi (as [[Dodge]] vehicles) and Honda began selling their vehicles in the US. Even more brands came to America and abroad during the 1970s, and by the 1980s, the Japanese manufacturers were gaining a major foothold in the US and world markets.


During [[World War II]], Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu and [[Tokyu Kogyo Kurogane|Kurogane]] built trucks and motorcycles for the [[Imperial Japanese Army]], with Kurogane introducing the world's first mass-produced four-wheel-drive car, called the [[Kurogane Type 95]] in 1936. For the first decade after [[World War II]], auto production was limited, and until 1966 most production consisted of trucks (including three-wheeled vehicles). Thereafter passenger cars dominated the market. Japanese car designs also continued to imitate or be derived from European and American designs.<ref>{{cite journal | volume = 161 | number = 5 | editor-last = Torrey | editor-first = Volta | title = New Japanese Cars Follow U.S., English Styling | journal = Popular Science | date = November 1952 | pages = 136–137 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fSEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA2-PA36 }}</ref> Exports were very limited in the 1950s, adding up to only 3.1% of the total passenger car production of the decade.<ref name="AU71">{{citation | ref = AU71 | journal = Auto-Universum 1971 | title = Personenwagen-Weltproduktion | trans-title = Global passenger car production | last = Moser | first = Robert | editor-first = Arthur | editor-last = Logoz | date = 1971 | publisher = Verlag Internationale Automobil-Parade AG | location = Zürich, Switzerland | volume = XIV | page = 65 | language = de }}</ref>
With Japanese manufacturers producing very affordable, reliable, and popular cars throughout the 1990s, Japan became the largest car producing nation in the world in [[2000]]. However, its market share has decreased slightly in recent years, mainly due to new competition from [[China]] and [[India]] and a shift in the focus of [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]] policies. Industry speculators have predicted, however, that by 2007 or 2008, [[Toyota]] will become the largest automaker in the world, surpassing American [[General Motors]] by producing upwards of 9.4 million vehicles. <ref name="CNN">{{cite news |url= http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-12-22-toyota-gm_x.htm |title= Toyota set to overtake GM in 2007 |publisher= [[USA Today]] |author= Yuri Kageyama |date= 2006-12-22 |accessdate= 2007-02-18}}</ref>


===1960s to today===
== Timeline of the Japanese car industry ==
In the 1960s Japanese manufacturers began to compete head-on in the domestic market, model for model. This was exemplified by the "CB-war" between the most popular compact sedans called the [[Toyota Corona]] and the [[Nissan Bluebird]]. While this initially led to benefits for consumers, before long R&D expenditures swelled and other companies offered competing compact sedans from Mazda, Subaru, Isuzu, Daihatsu and Mitsubishi. Towards the late 1980s and early 1990s Japanese automobile manufacturers had entered a stage of "Hyper-design" and "Hyper-equipment"; an arms race leading to less competitive products albeit produced in a highly efficient manner.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/publikationen/pdf/c015.pdf | title = Chinas Automobilindustrie in der Globalisierung | trans-title = China's automobile industry in globalisation | publisher = Universität Bremen | location = Bremen, Germany | journal = Berichte des Arbeitsbereichs Chinaforschung | date = April 2001 | number = 15 | first1 = Chunli | last1 = Lee | language = de | access-date = 2014-01-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202858/http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/publikationen/pdf/c015.pdf | archive-date = 2016-03-03 | url-status = dead }}</ref>


[[File:Suzuki Wagon R 001.JPG|right|thumb|First [[Suzuki Wagon R]], 1993, bestselling national [[kei car|kei class car]]]]
*1914 - [[Nissan Motors]] Established

*1917 - [[Mitsubishi Motors]] 1st car
During the 1960s, Japanese automakers launched a bevy of new ''[[kei cars]]'' in their domestic market; scooters and motorcycles remained dominant, with sales of 1.47 million in 1960 versus a mere 36,000 ''kei'' cars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Establishing a Mass Production System |url=http://njkk.com/about/industry7.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718001724/http://www.njkk.com/about/industry7.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-07-18 |work=About JAMA: Japan's Auto Industry |publisher=Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association }}</ref> These tiny automobiles usually featured very small engines (under 360cc, but were sometimes fitted with engines of up to 600cc for export) to keep taxes much lower than larger cars. The average person in Japan was now able to afford an automobile, which boosted sales dramatically and jumpstarted the auto industry toward becoming what it is today. The first of this new era, actually launched in 1958, was the [[Subaru 360]]. It was known as the "Lady Beetle", comparing its significance to the [[Volkswagen Beetle]] in [[Germany]]. Other significant models were the [[Suzuki Fronte]], [[Daihatsu Fellow Max]], [[Mitsubishi Minica]], [[Mazda Carol]], and the [[Honda N360]].
*1918 - [[Isuzu]] 1st car

*1924 -1927 [[Otomo (automobile)|Otomo]]
The keis were very minimalist motoring, however, much too small for most family car usage. The most popular economy car segment in the sixties was the 700-800&nbsp;cc class, embodied by the [[Toyota Publica]], [[Mitsubishi Colt 800]], and the original [[Mazda Familia]]. By the end of the sixties, however, these (often two-stroke) cars were being replaced by full one-litre cars with four-stroke engines, a move which was spearheaded by Nissan's 1966 [[Nissan Sunny#B10|Sunny]].<ref>{{cite journal | title = Road Test: Datsun 100A | last1 = Ikeda | first1 = Eizo | last2 = Sonobe | first2 = Hiroshi | journal = Motor Magazine International |date=June 1974}}</ref> All other manufacturers quickly followed suit, except for Toyota who equipped their [[Toyota Corolla|Corolla]] with a 1.1-litre engine - the extra 100&nbsp;cc were heavily touted in period advertising. These small family cars took a bigger and bigger share of an already expanding market. All vehicles sold in Japan were taxed yearly based on exterior dimensions and engine displacement. This was established by legislation passed in 1950 that established tax brackets on two classifications; [[Vehicle size class#Japan|dimension regulations]] and [[Road tax#Japan|engine displacement]]. The taxes were a primary consideration as to which vehicles were selected by Japanese consumers, and guided manufacturers as to what type of vehicles the market would buy.
*1931 - [[Mazda Mazdago]] - by Toyo Kogyo corp, later [[Mazda]]

*1935 - [[Toyota]] 1st car
====Export expansion====
*1937 - [[Suzuki]] 1st prototypes
[[File:MHV Mazda 110S Cosmo Sport 1972 01.jpg|left|thumb|[[Mazda Cosmo]], 1967, one of first two mass-produced cars with [[Wankel engine|Wankel rotary engine]]]]
*1952-1966 [[Prince Motor Company]] (absorbed into Nissan)

*1963 - [[Honda]] 1st car
Exports of passenger cars increased nearly two hundred-fold in the sixties compared to the previous decade, and were now up to 17.0 percent of the total production.<ref name="AU71"/> This though, was still only the beginning. Rapidly increasing domestic demand and the expansion of Japanese car companies into foreign markets in the 1970s further accelerated growth. Effects of the 1973 [[Arab Oil Embargo]] accelerated vehicle exports along with the exchange rate of the Japanese yen to the U.S. Dollar, UK Pound, and West German Deutsche Mark. Passenger car exports rose from 100,000 in 1965 to 1,827,000 in 1975. Automobile production in Japan continued to increase rapidly after the 1970s, as Mitsubishi (as [[Dodge]] vehicles) and Honda began selling their vehicles in the US. Even more brands came to America and abroad during the 1970s, and by the 1980s, the Japanese manufacturers were gaining a major foothold in the US and world markets.
*1967 - [[Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)]] is founded

*1986 - [[Acura]] is launched in the US by Honda
In the early 1970s, the [[Electronics industry in Japan|Japanese electronics]] manufacturers began producing [[integrated circuit]]s (ICs), [[microprocessor]]s and [[microcontroller]]s for the automobile industry, including ICs and microcontrollers for [[in-car entertainment]], automatic wipers, electronic locks, dashboard, and engine control. The Japanese automobile industry widely adopted ICs years before the American automobile industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trends in the Semiconductor Industry: 1970s |url=http://www.shmj.or.jp/english/trends/trd70s.html |website=Semiconductor History Museum of Japan |access-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627082830/http://www.shmj.or.jp/english/trends/trd70s.html |archive-date=27 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*1989 - [[Lexus]] is launched in the US by Toyota

*1989 - [[Infiniti]] is launched in the US by Nissan
Japanese cars became popular with [[United Kingdom|British]] buyers in the early 1970s, with [[Nissan|Nissan's]] [[Datsun]] badged cars (the Nissan brand was not used on British registered models until 1983) proving especially popular and earning a reputation in Britain for their reliability and low running costs, although rust was a major problem. Exports were successful enough that Japanese cars were considered a severe threat to many national car industries, such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. Import quotas were imposed in several countries, limiting the sales of Japanese-made cars to 3 percent of the overall market in France and 1.5 percent in Italy.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = The New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/29/business/europeans-press-japan-on-autos.html | title = Europeans Press Japan On Autos | date = 1989-12-29 | page = D1 | last = Greenhouse | first = Steven }}</ref> As for the United States, the Japanese government was pressured to agree to annual export quotas beginning in 1981.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = The New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/30/business/japan-confirms-it-will-continue-us-quota-of-2.3-million-cars.html | page = 34 | first = Susan | last = Chira | title = Japan Confirms It Will Continue U.S. Quota of 2.3 Million Cars | date = 1988-01-30 }}</ref> In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Japanese importers made [[gentlemen's agreement]]s to limit import in an effort to forestall stricter official quotas. As a result, Japanese manufacturers expanded local production of cars, establishing plants across North America and Europe while also taking advantage of plants already created in third countries not covered by the quotas. Thus, South African-built [[Daihatsu Charade]]s were sold in Italy and a number of Australian-made Mitsubishis found their way to North America and Europe.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/12466421/Automotive-Business-Review-February-2009 |title=A Sporting Heart Still Beats |last=Burford |first=Adrian |page=30 |journal=Automotive Business Review |issue=February 2009 |access-date=19 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225090228/http://www.scribd.com/doc/12466421/Automotive-Business-Review-February-2009 |archive-date=25 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*2003 - [[Scion_%28car%29|Scion]] is launched by Toyota

====World leader====
[[File:2nd Toyota Prius.jpg|right|thumb|[[Toyota Prius]], 2005 [[European Car of the Year]], first and bestselling mass-produced [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] car]]

With Japanese manufacturers producing very affordable, reliable, and popular cars throughout the 1990s, Japan became the largest car producing nation in the world in 2000. However, its market share has decreased slightly in recent years, particularly due to old and new competition from [[Automotive industry in South Korea|South Korea]], [[Automotive industry in China|China]] and [[Automotive industry in India|India]]. Nevertheless, Japan's car industry continues to flourish, its market share has risen again, and in the first quarter of 2008 Toyota surpassed American [[General Motors]] to become the world's largest car manufacturer.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/business/worldbusiness/24auto.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | title=G.M. Says Toyota Has Lead in Global Sales Race | first=Nick | last=Bunkley | date=2008-04-24 | access-date=2010-04-26}}</ref> Today, Japan is the third largest automobile market (below the [[United States]] and [[China]]) and is the second largest car producer in the world with its branded cars being among the most used ones internationally. Automobile export remains one of the country's most profitable exports and is a cornerstone of recovery plan for the latest economic crisis. In 2019 Japan was the second largest car exporter in the world.

== Timeline ==
{{inc-transport|date=March 2009}}
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2009}}
*1907 - [[Daihatsu#History|Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd.]] established
*1911 - [[Nissan#History|Kaishinsha Motor Car Works]] established
*1917 - [[Mitsubishi Motors]]' first car
*1917 - [[Tokyu Kogyo Kurogane|Nippon Internal Combustion Engine Co. Ltd.]] (integrated into [[Nissan]]) established as the small company Shūkōsha by Tetsuji Makita
*1918 - [[Isuzu]]'s first car
*1920-1925 - Gorham/Lila - auto production established (merged into [[Datsun]])
*1924-1927 - [[Otomo (automobile)|Otomo]] built at the Hakuyosha Ironworks in Tokyo
*1931 - [[Mazda-Go]] - by Toyo Kogyo corp, later [[Mazda]]
*1934-1957 - [[Ohta Jidosha|Ohta]] begins auto production
*1936 - [[Kurogane Type 95]] world's first four-wheel-drive car manufactured
*1936 - [[Toyota]]'s first car ([[Toyota AA]])
*1952-1966 - [[Prince Motor Company]] (integrated into Nissan)
*1953-1967 - [[Hino Motors]] starts auto production (merged into Toyota)
*1954 - [[Subaru]]'s first car ([[Subaru 1500|Subaru P-1]])
*1955 - [[Suzuki]]'s first car ([[Suzuki Suzulight|Suzulight]])
*1957 - [[Daihatsu]]'s first car ([[Daihatsu Midget]])
*1963 - [[Honda]]'s first production car ([[Honda S500]])
*1966 - One of the best selling cars of all time, the [[Toyota Corolla]], is introduced; Nissan opens its first North American manufacturing facility in Cuernavaca, Mexico as Nissan Mexicana
*1967 - [[Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association]] (JAMA) is founded
*1967 - [[Mazda Cosmo]] was one of the first two mass-produced cars with [[Wankel engine|Wankel]] rotary engine
*1977 - [[Voluntary Export Restraints]] limit exports to the United Kingdom for five years; the deal was renewed until 1999
*1980 - Japan surpassed the United States and became first in auto manufacturing; Nissan USA breaks ground for its Smyrna, Tennessee, manufacturing plant
*1981 - Voluntary Export Restraints from May limit exports to [[United States]] to 1.68 million cars per year; redundant by 1990 as production inside US displaces direct exports; similar policies in several EU countries<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.perc.org/articles/article416.php
|title = Voluntary Export Restraints on Automobiles
|access-date = 2008-11-18
|last = Benjamin
|first = Daniel K.
|date = September 1999
|work = PERC Reports: Volume 17, No. 3
|publisher = Property & Environment Research Center
|quote = In May 1981, with the American auto industry mired in recession, Japanese car makers agreed to limit exports of passenger cars to the United States. This "voluntary export restraint" (VER) program, initially supported by the Reagan administration, allowed only 1.68 million Japanese cars into the U.S. each year. The cap was raised to 1.85 million cars in 1984, and to 2.30 million in 1985, before the program was terminated in 1994
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216132355/http://www.perc.org/articles/article416.php
|archive-date = 2009-02-16
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
*1982 - [[Mitsuoka]] first car (BUBU shuttle 50)
*1991 - [[Mazda HR-X]] was one of the first [[hydrogen vehicle|hydrogen]] (combined with Wankel rotary) car
*1997 - [[Toyota Prius]] was the first mass-produced [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] car
*2004 - [[Mitsubishi Motors#Vehicle defect cover-up|Mitsubishi defects cover-up scandal]]
*2006 - Japan surpassed the United States and became first in auto manufacturing again.
*2008 - Toyota surpassed [[General Motors]] to become the world's largest car manufacturer.
*2008 - Japanese automotive industry afflicted by the [[2007–2008 financial crisis|financial crisis]] caused by the [[Great Recession]] for the first time.
*2009 - Japan was surpassed by China and became second in automotive manufacturing.
*2010 - [[2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls]]
*2011 - [[2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami|March 2011 earthquake and tsunami]] and the [[Fukushima nuclear disaster]] affects Japanese automotive production for the second time.
*2012 - At the beginning of [[Abenomics]] from 2012 to 2020, Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]]'s program to help the country's economic recovery including the automotive industry: Japanese economics side is one part of a more general program, which was commented on by [[Joseph Stiglitz]].
*2020 - [[COVID-19 pandemic]] affects Japanese automotive production for the third time, which Japan had encountered its worst economic crisis since the end of [[World War II]].

{{Clear}}

==Statistics==
{{update section|date=March 2018}}

===Production volumes by manufacturer===
{{main|List of Japanese automobile manufacturers}}

The following are vehicle production volumes for Japanese vehicle manufacturers, according to the [[Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association]] (JAMA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamaserv.jama.or.jp/newdb/eng/index.html |title=JAMA Active matrix database system |publisher=Jamaserv.jama.or.jp |access-date=2013-04-02}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Passenger cars
|-
! Manufacturer
! 2007
! 2008
! 2009
! 2010
! 2011
! 2012
!2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan - Automotive Production volume, 2022 |url=https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/flash_prod/automotive-production-in-japan-by-month-2022 |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=Marklines}}</ref>
|-
! Toyota
| 3,849,353 || 3,631,146 || 2,543,715 || 2,993,714 || 2,473,546 || 3,170,000
|2,656,009
|-
! Suzuki
| 1,061,767 || 1,059,456 || 758,057 || 915,391 || 811,689 || 896,781
|919,891
|-
! Daihatsu
| 648,289 || 641,322 || 551,275 || 534,586 || 479,956 || 633,887
| 869,161
|-
! Mazda
| 952,290 || 1,038,725 || 693,598 || 893,323 || 798,060 || 830,294
|734,833
|-
! Honda
| 1,288,577 || 1,230,621 || 812,298 || 941,558 || 687,948 || 996,832
|643,973
|-
! Subaru
| 403,428 || 460,515 || 357,276 || 437,443 || 366,518 || 551,812
|562,601
|-
! Nissan
| 982,870 || 1,095,661 || 780,495 || 1,008,160 || 1,004,666 || 1,035,726
|559,314
|-
! Mitsubishi
| 758,038 || 770,667 || 365,447 || 586,187 || 536,142 || 448,598
|440,762
|-
! Other
| 25 || 30 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
| -
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total
| 9,944,637 || 9,928,143 || 6,862,161 || 8,310,362 || 7,158,525 || 8,554,219
|7,386,544
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Trucks
|-
! Manufacturer
! 2007
! 2008
! 2009
|-
! Toyota
| 291,008 || 271,544 || 178,954
|-
! Suzuki
| 156,530 || 158,779 || 150,245
|-
! Daihatsu
| 138,312 || 151,935 || 132,980
|-
! Isuzu
| 236,619 || 250,692 || 118,033
|-
! Nissan
| 188,788 || 189,005 || 109,601
|-
! Mitsubishi
| 88,045 || 83,276 || 61,083
|-
! Hino
| 101,909 || 101,037 || 62,197
|-
! Subaru
| 72,422 || 64,401 || 51,123
|-
! Mitsubishi Fuso
| 131,055 || 115,573 || 49,485
|-
! Honda
| 43,268 || 33,760 || 28,626
|-
! Mazda
| 43,221 || 39,965 || 23,577
|-
! UD Trucks
| 44,398 || 45,983 || 18,652
|-
! Other
| 2,445 || 2,449 || 545
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total
| 1,538,020 || 1,508,399 || 985,101
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Buses
|-
! Manufacturer
! 2007
! 2008
! 2009
|-
! Toyota
| 85,776 || 109,698 || 69,605
|-
! Mitsubishi Fuso
| 10,225 || 10,611 || 4,982
|-
! Nissan
| 7,422 || 8,416 || 4,479
|-
! Hino
| 4,984 || 5,179 || 4,473
|-
! Isuzu
| 3,668 || 3,221 || 2,077
|-
! UD Trucks
| 1,595 || 1,977 || 1,179
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total
| 113,670 || 139,102 || 86,795
|}

== Sales rank ==
=== Regular cars ===
{| class="wikitable" align="left" style="text-align: center; width:99%; font-size:85%;"
! colspan="11" |{{anchor|top10models}}{{big|Top 10 best-selling automobile models in Japan by nameplate{{efn|name=nameplate|Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA) grouped vehicle sales by nameplate, which means different models with the same nameplate such as the Toyota Yaris and [[Toyota Yaris Cross]] or the Daihatsu Mira and [[Daihatsu Mira Gino]] are counted as a single model.}} (excluding kei vehicles and commercial vehicles), 1990–2023}}<br>Source:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=あの時売れていた車は?人気乗用車販売台数ランキング|url=https://www.sonysonpo.co.jp/infographic/ifga_car_ranking.html|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.sonysonpo.co.jp|language=ja}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:4%;" |Year
! colspan="10" style="width:100%;" |Models and Ranking
|-
! style="width:9%;" |1st
! style="width:9%;" |2nd
! style="width:9%;" |3rd
! style="width:9%;" |4th
! style="width:9%;" |5th
! style="width:9%;" |6th
! style="width:9%;" |7th
! style="width:9%;" |8th
! style="width:9%;" |9th
! style="width:9%;" |10th
|-
|'''1990'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Corolla]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Mark II]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Crown]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Carina]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Corona]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Sunny]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Civic]]
| style="background: #cce6ff" |[[Mazda Familia]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Starlet]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Sprinter]]
|-
|'''1991'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Civic
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Carina
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corona
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sprinter
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Bluebird]]
|-
|'''1992'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Civic
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Carina
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corona
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan March]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sprinter
|-
|'''1993'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Civic
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Estima]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sprinter
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Carina
|-
|'''1994'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Civic
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Carina
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sprinter
|-
|'''1995'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Odyssey (international)|Honda Odyssey]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Civic
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sprinter
|-
|'''1996'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Odyssey
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda CR-V]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
| style="background: #ccddff" |[[Subaru Legacy]]
|-
|'''1997'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Stepwgn]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Ipsum]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #cce6ff" |[[Mazda Demio]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Odyssey
|-
|'''1998'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Cube]]
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Starlet
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #fff9e5" |[[Mitsubishi Chariot Grandis]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Sunny
|-
|'''1999'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Vitz]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Mark II
| style="background: #ccddff" |Subaru Legacy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota TownAce Noah]]
|-
|'''2000'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000年(1月~12月) |url=http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Japan Automobile Dealers Association |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801175013fw_/http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |archive-date=2001-08-01}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Odyssey
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota FunCargo]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota bB]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
|-
|'''2001'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001年(1~12月) |url=http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Japan Automobile Dealers Association |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020805134937fw_/http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |archive-date=2002-08-05}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Stream]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Fit]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Odyssey
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota FunCargo
|-
|'''2002'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002年(1~12月) |url=http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Japan Automobile Dealers Association |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010060834fw_/http://www.jada.or.jp/newrank.htm |archive-date=2004-10-10}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Fit]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Ist]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Noah]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Voxy]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Mobilio]]
|-
|'''2003'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003年(1~12月) |url=http://www.jada.or.jp/NEWranking2003.htm |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Japan Automobile Dealers Association |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040408022928fw_/http://www.jada.or.jp/NEWranking2003.htm |archive-date=2004-04-08}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Wish]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Ist
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Noah
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Alphard]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
|-
|'''2004'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=2004年車名別ランキング…連続でトヨタ カローラ |url=https://response.jp/article/2005/01/11/66952.html |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Cube
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Wish
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Odyssey
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Ist
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Alphard
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Noah
|-
|'''2005'''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=2005年車名別ランキング、カローラ 3年連続でトップ |url=https://response.jp/article/2006/01/11/78105.html |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Tiida]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Note]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Wish
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Passo]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Alphard
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
|-
|'''2006'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=2006年乗用車販売台数ランキング…カローラ 4年連続トップ、トップ10の7車種がトヨタ |url=https://response.jp/article/2007/01/11/90055.html |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Serena]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Wish
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Ractis]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
|-
|'''2007<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=【懐かしすぎる】10年前の2007年に売れていた車とは?販売台数トップ10!|url=https://matome.response.jp/articles/1132|access-date=2021-04-24|website=カーナリズム}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Estima
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Tiida
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Noah
|-
|'''2008'''
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Prius]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Tiida
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
|-
|'''2009'''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2010-01-08|title=2009年の車名別販売ランキング、「プリウス」「ワゴンR」が圧勝|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/341255.html|access-date=2021-04-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Insight]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Freed]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
|-
|'''2010<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2011-01-17|title=2010 Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2010-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
|-
|'''2011<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=2012-01-11|title=2011 Full Year Best-Selling Car Models in Japan|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2011-full-year-best-selling-car-models-in-japan/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Ractis
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Passo
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan March
|-
|'''2012<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|date=2013-01-10|title=2012 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2012-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Aqua]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Vellfire]]
|-
|'''2013<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|date=2014-01-09|title=2013 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2013-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Crown
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Stepwgn
|-
|'''2014<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|date=2015-01-08|title=2014 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2014-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Vezel]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Noah
|-
|'''2015<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|date=2016-01-08|title=2015 (Full Year) Japan: 30 Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2015-full-year-japan-30-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-10|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #cce6ff" |Mazda Demio
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Vezel
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Sienta]]
|-
|'''2016<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|date=2017-01-11|title=2016 (Full Year) Japan: 30 Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2016-full-year-japan-30-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2019-08-17|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Vezel
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
|-
|'''2017<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|date=2018-01-11|title=2017 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models and Mini Cars|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2017-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models-mini-cars/|access-date=2019-08-17|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota C-HR]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
|-
|'''2018<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|date=2019-01-10|title=2018 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models and Mini Cars|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2018-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models-and-mini-cars/|access-date=2019-08-17|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Roomy]]
|-
|'''2019<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-09|title=2019 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2019-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2020-02-20|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Serena
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Roomy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Vitz
|-
|'''2020<ref>{{Cite web|last=administrator|date=2021-01-08|title=【国産乗用車編】2020年12月&2020年1月~12月の登録車新車販売台数ランキング15を一挙公開!12月度も累計も全てトヨタ新型ヤリスが圧勝! {{!}} ページ 2|url=https://creative311.com/?p=110141&page=2|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Creative Trend|language=ja}}</ref>'''
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Yaris]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Raize]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Alphard
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Roomy
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
|-
|'''2021'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=2021 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2021-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2022-01-23|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Yaris
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Roomy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Alphard
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Raize
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |[[Toyota Harrier]]
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
|-
|'''2022'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-01-11|title=2022 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2022-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/|access-date=2023-01-11|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Yaris
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Roomy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Raize
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Fit
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Alphard
|-
|'''2023'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-01-11|title=2023 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2023-full-year-japan-best-selling-car-models/}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Yaris
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Corolla
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Sienta
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Note
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Roomy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Prius
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Noah
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Voxy
| style="background: #ffe6e6" |Toyota Aqua
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Freed
|-
!
! style="width:9%;" |1st
! style="width:9%;" |2nd
! style="width:9%;" |3rd
! style="width:9%;" |4th
! style="width:9%;" |5th
! style="width:9%;" |6th
! style="width:9%;" |7th
! style="width:9%;" |8th
! style="width:9%;" |9th
! style="width:9%;" |10th
|-
| colspan="11" |'''See also''' : Best-selling models in {{hlist|class=inline|[[Automotive industry in Australia#top10models|Australia]]|[[Automotive industry in Brazil#top10models|Brazil]]|[[Automotive industry in India#top10models|India]]|[[Automotive industry in Indonesia#top10models|Indonesia]]|[[Automotive industry in Malaysia#top10models|Malaysia]]|[[Automotive industry in the Philippines#top10models|Philippines]]|[[Automotive industry in Thailand#top10models|Thailand]]|[[Automotive industry in Sweden#top10models|Sweden]]}}
|}
{{clear}}

=== Kei cars ===
{| class="wikitable" align="left" style="text-align: center; width:99%; font-size:85%;"
! colspan="11" |{{anchor|Kei cars sales rank}}{{big|Top 10 best-selling kei cars in Japan by nameplate{{efn|name=nameplate}} (excluding kei commercial vehicles), 2003–2023}}
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:4%;" |Year
! colspan="10" style="width:100%;" |Models and Ranking
|-
! style="width:9%;" |1st
! style="width:9%;" |2nd
! style="width:9%;" |3rd
! style="width:9%;" |4th
! style="width:9%;" |5th
! style="width:9%;" |6th
! style="width:9%;" |7th
! style="width:9%;" |8th
! style="width:9%;" |9th
! style="width:9%;" |10th
|-
|'''2003'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=ダイハツ悲願達成、スズキ『ワゴンR』を抜いて8年ぶりトップ |url=https://response.jp/article/2004/01/08/56818.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffece5" |[[Daihatsu Move]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki Wagon R]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Life]]
| style="background: #ffece5" |[[Daihatsu Mira]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki Alto]]
| colspan="5" |—
|-
|'''2004'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004年度車名別軽販売、スズキ ワゴンR が連覇 |url=https://response.jp/article/2005/04/06/69561.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffece5" |[[Daihatsu Mira]]
| style="background: #ffece5" |[[Daihatsu Tanto]]
| style="background: #fff9e5" |[[Mitsubishi eK]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Moco]]
| style="background: #ccddff" |[[Subaru R2]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Vamos]]
|-
|'''2005'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005年軽自動車販売ランキング、ワゴンR が2年連続トップ |url=https://response.jp/article/2006/01/11/78118.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda That's]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki Kei]]
|-
|'''2006'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006年軽乗用車販売ランキング…ワゴンR が3年連続トップ |url=https://response.jp/article/2007/01/11/90072.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda Zest]]
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki MR Wagon]]
|-
|'''2007'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=07年軽自動車販売ランキング…スズキ ワゴンR がトップ |url=https://response.jp/article/2008/01/10/104057.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
| style="background: #ccddff" |[[Subaru Stella]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Zest
|-
|'''2008'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2009-01-08|title=普通車と軽自動車の2008年12月および2008年通年の車名別販売台数を公表|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/038392.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Palette
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
| style="background: #ccddff" |Subaru Stella
|-
|'''2009'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2010-01-08|title=2009年の車名別販売ランキング、「プリウス」「ワゴンR」が圧勝|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/341255.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Palette
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Suzuki Palette|Nissan Roox]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Zest
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
|-
|'''2010'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=2010年の軽自動車販売ランキング…ワゴンR が7年連続トップ|url=https://response.jp/article/2011/01/11/150225.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=レスポンス(Response.jp)|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Palette
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Zest
|-
|'''2011'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=軽自動車販売で ワゴンR が首位、ダイハツは総力戦…2011年車名別ランキング |url=https://response.jp/article/2012/01/11/168155.html |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Response Automotive Media |language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Palette
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
|-
|'''2012'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2013-01-10|title=2012年の車名別販売ランキング、乗用車は「プリウス」、軽四輪車は「ミラ」が首位|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/581276.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda N-Box]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Palette
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda Life
|-
|'''2013'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2014-01-09|title=2013年の車名別販売ランキングで乗用車は「アクア」、軽自動車は「N-BOX」が首位|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/630191.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda N-One]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki Spacia]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Nissan Dayz]]
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Moco
|-
|'''2014'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2015-01-15|title=2014年の車名別販売ランキングで乗用車は「アクア」、軽自動車は「タント」が首位|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/683817.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |[[Honda N-WGN]]
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |[[Suzuki Hustler]]
|-
|'''2015'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2016-01-08|title=2015年の車名別販売ランキングで乗用車は「アクア」、軽自動車は「N-BOX」が年間首位|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/738276.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-WGN
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
|-
|'''2016'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社インプレス|date=2017-01-11|title=2016年の車名別販売ランキング、軽/乗用車含め唯一20万台超えの「プリウス」が年間首位|url=http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1038528.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Watch|language=ja}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-WGN
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
|-
|'''2017<ref name=":13" />'''
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-WGN
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
|-
|'''2018<ref name=":14" />'''
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-WGN
|-
|'''2019'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-08|title=2019 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2019-full-year-japan-best-selling-minicar-kei-brands-and-models/|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #fff9e5" |Mitsubishi eK
|-
|'''2020'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-05|title=2020 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2020-full-year-japan-best-selling-minicar-kei-brands-and-models/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Dayz
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |[[Mitsubishi eK|Nissan Roox]]
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-WGN
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
|-
|'''2021'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=2021 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2021-full-year-japan-best-selling-minicar-kei-brands-and-models/|access-date=2022-01-23|website=Car Sales Statistics|language=en-US}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |[[Daihatsu Taft (LA900)|Daihatsu Taft]]
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
|-
|'''2022'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=2022 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2022-full-year-japan-best-selling-minicar-kei-brands-and-models/}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Taft
|-
|'''2023'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-01-05|title=2023 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Minicar (Kei) Brands and Models|url=https://www.best-selling-cars.com/japan/2023-full-year-japan-best-selling-minicar-kei-brands-and-models/}}</ref>
| style="background: #e1e1ea" |Honda N-Box
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Tanto
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Spacia
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Move
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Hustler
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Wagon R
| style="background: #ffe6cc" |Nissan Roox
| style="background: #e5f2ff" |Suzuki Alto
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Mira
| style="background: #ffece5" |Daihatsu Taft
|-
!
! style="width:9%;" |1st
! style="width:9%;" |2nd
! style="width:9%;" |3rd
! style="width:9%;" |4th
! style="width:9%;" |5th
! style="width:9%;" |6th
! style="width:9%;" |7th
! style="width:9%;" |8th
! style="width:9%;" |9th
! style="width:9%;" |10th
|-
| colspan="11" |'''See also''' : Best-selling models in {{hlist|class=inline|[[Automotive industry in Australia#top10models|Australia]]|[[Automotive industry in Brazil#top10models|Brazil]]|[[Automotive industry in India#top10models|India]]|[[Automotive industry in Indonesia#top10models|Indonesia]]|[[Automotive industry in Malaysia#top10models|Malaysia]]|[[Automotive industry in the Philippines#top10models|Philippines]]|[[Automotive industry in Thailand#top10models|Thailand]]|[[Automotive industry in Sweden#top10models|Sweden]]}}
|}

{{clear}}


==See also==
==See also==

*[[Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)]]
* [[List of automobile manufacturers of Japan]]
*[[Portal:Japanese cars]]
* [[Automotive industry]]
* [[Japanese used vehicle exporting]]
* [[Timeline of Japanese automobiles]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />
*{{cite book |title=Car Wars: The Untold Story |year=1984 |author=[[Robert Sobel]] |publisher=[[E. P. Dutton]] |id=ISBN 0-525-24289-9}}


==Further reading==
[[Category:Automotive industry by country]]
* Odaka, Konosuke. ''The automobile industry in Japan : a study of ancillary firm development'' (1988) [https://archive.org/details/automobileindust0000odak online]
[[Category:Economy of Japan]]
*{{cite book |title=Car Wars: The Untold Story |year=1984 |author=Robert Sobel |author-link=Robert Sobel |publisher=[[E. P. Dutton]] |isbn=0-525-24289-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/carwarsuntoldsto00sobe }}
*{{cite book |title=Driving from Japan: Japanese Cars in America |url=https://archive.org/details/drivingfromjapan0000jame |url-access=registration |year=2005 |author=Wanda James |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-1734-6}}
*{{cite book |title=Complete History Of The Japanese Car |year=1986 |author=Marco Ruiz |publisher=Portland House |isbn=978-0517617779}}
* {{Cite news |last1=Semuels |first1=Alana |title=Why Aren't U.S. Cars Popular in Japan? |work=The Atlantic |date=2017-11-06 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/11/us-cars-japan/544991/ |issn=1072-7825 |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite book |title=THE MOTOR INDUSTRY OF JAPAN 2011 |date= May 2011 |author=Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association |author-link=Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association | url=http://www.jama.or.jp}}
; Videos:
* {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9FELWSDYPk|title=Why Ford And Other American Cars Don't Sell In Japan|publisher=[[CNBC]]|date=2019-04-16}}


==External links==
[[lt:Japonijos automobilių pramonė]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150314185701/http://www.jsae.or.jp/autotech/index_e.html The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE) "240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology"]
* [https://www.japanautomotivedaily.com Japan Automotive Daily (Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun in English)]


{{Automotive industry in Japan}}
{{Portal|Japanese Car}}
{{Automotive industry by country}}
{{Economy of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Automotive Industry In Japan}}
[[ja:日本車]]
[[Category:Automotive industry in Japan| ]]

Latest revision as of 08:19, 7 January 2025

First generation Toyota Corolla (1966), the world's all-time best selling line of cars; in its 12th generation as of 2023
Toyota Mirai, Toyota's hydrogen-fueled vehicle

The automotive industry in Japan is one of the most prominent and largest industries in the world. Japan has been in the top three of the countries with the most cars manufactured since the 1960s, surpassing Germany. The automotive industry in Japan rapidly increased from the 1970s to the 1990s (when it was oriented both for domestic use and worldwide export) and in the 1980s and 1990s, overtook the U.S. as the production leader with up to 13 million cars per year manufactured and significant exports. After massive ramp-up by China in the 2000s and fluctuating U.S. output, Japan is currently the third largest automotive producer in the world with an annual production of 9.9 million automobiles in 2012.[1] Japanese investments helped grow the auto industry in many countries throughout the last few decades.[citation needed]

Japanese business conglomerates began building their first automobiles in the middle to late 1910s. The companies went about this by either designing their own trucks (the market for passenger vehicles in Japan at the time was small), or partnering with a European brand to produce and sell their cars in Japan under license. Such examples of this are Isuzu partnering with Wolseley Motors (UK), Nissan partnering with British automaker Austin, and the Mitsubishi Model A, which was based upon the Fiat Tipo 3. The demand for domestic trucks was greatly increased by the Japanese military buildup before World War II, causing many Japanese manufacturers to break out of their shells and design their own vehicles. In the 1970s Japan was the pioneer in the use of robotics in the manufacturing of vehicles.

The country is home to a number of companies that produce cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, and engines. Japanese automotive manufacturers include Toyota, Honda, Daihatsu, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Isuzu, Hino, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Mitsuoka. Infiniti, Acura, and Lexus are luxury brands of Nissan, Honda and Toyota, respectively.

Cars designed in Japan have won the European Car of the Year, International Car of the Year, and World Car of the Year awards many times. Japanese vehicles have had worldwide influence, and no longer have the stigma they had in the 1950s and 1960s when they first emerged internationally, due to a dedicated focus on continual product and process improvement led by Toyota as well as the use of the Five Whys technique and the early adoption of the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Japanese cars are also built in compliance with Japanese Government dimension regulations and engine displacement is further regulated by road tax bracket regulations, which also affects any imported cars sold in Japan.

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

In 1904, Torao Yamaha produced the first domestically manufactured bus, which was powered by a steam engine. In 1907, Komanosuke Uchiyama[2] produced the Takuri, the first entirely Japanese-made gasoline engine car. The Kunisue Automobile Works built the Kunisue in 1910, and the following year manufactured the Tokyo in cooperation with Tokyo Motor Vehicles Ltd. In 1911, Kaishinsha Motorcar Works was established and later began manufacturing a car called the DAT. In 1920, Jitsuyo Jidosha Seizo Co., founded by William R. Gorham, began building the Gorham and later the Lila. The company merged with Kaishinsha in 1926 to form the DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co. (later to evolve into Nissan Motors). From 1924 to 1927, Hakuyosha Ironworks Ltd. built the Otomo. Toyota, a textile manufacturer, began building cars in 1936. Most early vehicles, however, were trucks produced under military subsidy. Isuzu, Yanmar and Daihatsu initially focused on diesel engine development.

The Mitsubishi Model A was produced in 1917.

Cars built in Japan before World War II tended to be based on European or American models. The 1917 Mitsubishi Model A was based on the Fiat A3-3 design. (This model was considered to be the first mass-produced car in Japan, with 22 units produced.) In the 1930s, Nissan Motors' cars were based on the Austin 7 and Graham-Paige designs, while the Toyota AA model was based on the Chrysler Airflow. Ohta built cars in the 1930s based on Ford models, while Chiyoda and Sumida, a predecessor of Isuzu, built cars resembling General Motors products 1935 Pontiac, and 1930s LaSalle.[3][4]

Automobile manufacture from Japanese companies was struggling, despite investment efforts by the Japanese Government. The 1923 Great Kantō earthquake devastated most of Japan's fledgling infrastructure and truck and construction equipment manufacturing benefited from recovery efforts. Yanase & Co., Ltd. (株式会社ヤナセ Yanase Kabushiki gaisha) was an importer of American-made cars to Japan and contributed to disaster recovery efforts by importing GMC trucks and construction equipment. By bringing in American products, Japanese manufacturers were able to examine the imported vehicles and develop their own products.

Transportation and mobilization in the early 1900s was largely monopolized by the Japanese Government's Ministry of Railways, and private automobile companies emerged to further modernize the transportation infrastructure.

From 1925 until the beginning of World War II, Ford and GM[5] had factories in the country and they dominated the Japanese market. The Ford Motor Company of Japan was established in 1925 and a production plant was set up in Yokohama. General Motors established operations in Osaka in 1927. Chrysler also came to Japan and set up Kyoritsu Motors.[6] Between 1925 and 1936, the United States Big Three automakers' Japanese subsidiaries produced a total of 208,967 vehicles, compared to the domestic producers total of 12,127 vehicles. In 1936, the Japanese government passed the Automobile Manufacturing Industry Law, which was intended to promote the domestic auto industry and reduce foreign competition; ironically, this stopped the groundbreaking of an integrated Ford plant in Yokohama, modeled on Dagenham in England and intended to serve the Asian market, that would have established Japan as a major exporter[citation needed]. Instead by 1939, the foreign manufacturers had been forced out of Japan. Under the direction of the Imperial Japanese Government, the fledgling vehicle production efforts were redirected to heavy duty truck production due to the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Isuzu TX was the result of three Japanese companies combining efforts to manufacture a standardized, military grade heavy duty truck.[7][8]

During World War II, Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu and Kurogane built trucks and motorcycles for the Imperial Japanese Army, with Kurogane introducing the world's first mass-produced four-wheel-drive car, called the Kurogane Type 95 in 1936. For the first decade after World War II, auto production was limited, and until 1966 most production consisted of trucks (including three-wheeled vehicles). Thereafter passenger cars dominated the market. Japanese car designs also continued to imitate or be derived from European and American designs.[9] Exports were very limited in the 1950s, adding up to only 3.1% of the total passenger car production of the decade.[10]

1960s to today

[edit]

In the 1960s Japanese manufacturers began to compete head-on in the domestic market, model for model. This was exemplified by the "CB-war" between the most popular compact sedans called the Toyota Corona and the Nissan Bluebird. While this initially led to benefits for consumers, before long R&D expenditures swelled and other companies offered competing compact sedans from Mazda, Subaru, Isuzu, Daihatsu and Mitsubishi. Towards the late 1980s and early 1990s Japanese automobile manufacturers had entered a stage of "Hyper-design" and "Hyper-equipment"; an arms race leading to less competitive products albeit produced in a highly efficient manner.[11]

First Suzuki Wagon R, 1993, bestselling national kei class car

During the 1960s, Japanese automakers launched a bevy of new kei cars in their domestic market; scooters and motorcycles remained dominant, with sales of 1.47 million in 1960 versus a mere 36,000 kei cars.[12] These tiny automobiles usually featured very small engines (under 360cc, but were sometimes fitted with engines of up to 600cc for export) to keep taxes much lower than larger cars. The average person in Japan was now able to afford an automobile, which boosted sales dramatically and jumpstarted the auto industry toward becoming what it is today. The first of this new era, actually launched in 1958, was the Subaru 360. It was known as the "Lady Beetle", comparing its significance to the Volkswagen Beetle in Germany. Other significant models were the Suzuki Fronte, Daihatsu Fellow Max, Mitsubishi Minica, Mazda Carol, and the Honda N360.

The keis were very minimalist motoring, however, much too small for most family car usage. The most popular economy car segment in the sixties was the 700-800 cc class, embodied by the Toyota Publica, Mitsubishi Colt 800, and the original Mazda Familia. By the end of the sixties, however, these (often two-stroke) cars were being replaced by full one-litre cars with four-stroke engines, a move which was spearheaded by Nissan's 1966 Sunny.[13] All other manufacturers quickly followed suit, except for Toyota who equipped their Corolla with a 1.1-litre engine - the extra 100 cc were heavily touted in period advertising. These small family cars took a bigger and bigger share of an already expanding market. All vehicles sold in Japan were taxed yearly based on exterior dimensions and engine displacement. This was established by legislation passed in 1950 that established tax brackets on two classifications; dimension regulations and engine displacement. The taxes were a primary consideration as to which vehicles were selected by Japanese consumers, and guided manufacturers as to what type of vehicles the market would buy.

Export expansion

[edit]
Mazda Cosmo, 1967, one of first two mass-produced cars with Wankel rotary engine

Exports of passenger cars increased nearly two hundred-fold in the sixties compared to the previous decade, and were now up to 17.0 percent of the total production.[10] This though, was still only the beginning. Rapidly increasing domestic demand and the expansion of Japanese car companies into foreign markets in the 1970s further accelerated growth. Effects of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo accelerated vehicle exports along with the exchange rate of the Japanese yen to the U.S. Dollar, UK Pound, and West German Deutsche Mark. Passenger car exports rose from 100,000 in 1965 to 1,827,000 in 1975. Automobile production in Japan continued to increase rapidly after the 1970s, as Mitsubishi (as Dodge vehicles) and Honda began selling their vehicles in the US. Even more brands came to America and abroad during the 1970s, and by the 1980s, the Japanese manufacturers were gaining a major foothold in the US and world markets.

In the early 1970s, the Japanese electronics manufacturers began producing integrated circuits (ICs), microprocessors and microcontrollers for the automobile industry, including ICs and microcontrollers for in-car entertainment, automatic wipers, electronic locks, dashboard, and engine control. The Japanese automobile industry widely adopted ICs years before the American automobile industry.[14]

Japanese cars became popular with British buyers in the early 1970s, with Nissan's Datsun badged cars (the Nissan brand was not used on British registered models until 1983) proving especially popular and earning a reputation in Britain for their reliability and low running costs, although rust was a major problem. Exports were successful enough that Japanese cars were considered a severe threat to many national car industries, such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. Import quotas were imposed in several countries, limiting the sales of Japanese-made cars to 3 percent of the overall market in France and 1.5 percent in Italy.[15] As for the United States, the Japanese government was pressured to agree to annual export quotas beginning in 1981.[16] In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Japanese importers made gentlemen's agreements to limit import in an effort to forestall stricter official quotas. As a result, Japanese manufacturers expanded local production of cars, establishing plants across North America and Europe while also taking advantage of plants already created in third countries not covered by the quotas. Thus, South African-built Daihatsu Charades were sold in Italy and a number of Australian-made Mitsubishis found their way to North America and Europe.[17]

World leader

[edit]
Toyota Prius, 2005 European Car of the Year, first and bestselling mass-produced hybrid car

With Japanese manufacturers producing very affordable, reliable, and popular cars throughout the 1990s, Japan became the largest car producing nation in the world in 2000. However, its market share has decreased slightly in recent years, particularly due to old and new competition from South Korea, China and India. Nevertheless, Japan's car industry continues to flourish, its market share has risen again, and in the first quarter of 2008 Toyota surpassed American General Motors to become the world's largest car manufacturer.[18] Today, Japan is the third largest automobile market (below the United States and China) and is the second largest car producer in the world with its branded cars being among the most used ones internationally. Automobile export remains one of the country's most profitable exports and is a cornerstone of recovery plan for the latest economic crisis. In 2019 Japan was the second largest car exporter in the world.

Timeline

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]

Production volumes by manufacturer

[edit]

The following are vehicle production volumes for Japanese vehicle manufacturers, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).[20]

Passenger cars
Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2022[21]
Toyota 3,849,353 3,631,146 2,543,715 2,993,714 2,473,546 3,170,000 2,656,009
Suzuki 1,061,767 1,059,456 758,057 915,391 811,689 896,781 919,891
Daihatsu 648,289 641,322 551,275 534,586 479,956 633,887 869,161
Mazda 952,290 1,038,725 693,598 893,323 798,060 830,294 734,833
Honda 1,288,577 1,230,621 812,298 941,558 687,948 996,832 643,973
Subaru 403,428 460,515 357,276 437,443 366,518 551,812 562,601
Nissan 982,870 1,095,661 780,495 1,008,160 1,004,666 1,035,726 559,314
Mitsubishi 758,038 770,667 365,447 586,187 536,142 448,598 440,762
Other 25 30 0 0 0 0 -
Total 9,944,637 9,928,143 6,862,161 8,310,362 7,158,525 8,554,219 7,386,544
Trucks
Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009
Toyota 291,008 271,544 178,954
Suzuki 156,530 158,779 150,245
Daihatsu 138,312 151,935 132,980
Isuzu 236,619 250,692 118,033
Nissan 188,788 189,005 109,601
Mitsubishi 88,045 83,276 61,083
Hino 101,909 101,037 62,197
Subaru 72,422 64,401 51,123
Mitsubishi Fuso 131,055 115,573 49,485
Honda 43,268 33,760 28,626
Mazda 43,221 39,965 23,577
UD Trucks 44,398 45,983 18,652
Other 2,445 2,449 545
Total 1,538,020 1,508,399 985,101
Buses
Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009
Toyota 85,776 109,698 69,605
Mitsubishi Fuso 10,225 10,611 4,982
Nissan 7,422 8,416 4,479
Hino 4,984 5,179 4,473
Isuzu 3,668 3,221 2,077
UD Trucks 1,595 1,977 1,179
Total 113,670 139,102 86,795

Sales rank

[edit]

Regular cars

[edit]
Top 10 best-selling automobile models in Japan by nameplate[a] (excluding kei vehicles and commercial vehicles), 1990–2023
Source:[22]
Year Models and Ranking
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
1990 Toyota Corolla Toyota Mark II Toyota Crown Toyota Carina Toyota Corona Nissan Sunny Honda Civic Mazda Familia Toyota Starlet Toyota Sprinter
1991 Toyota Corolla Toyota Mark II Honda Civic Toyota Crown Toyota Carina Nissan Sunny Toyota Corona Toyota Starlet Toyota Sprinter Nissan Bluebird
1992 Toyota Corolla Toyota Mark II Toyota Crown Honda Civic Nissan Sunny Toyota Starlet Toyota Carina Toyota Corona Nissan March Toyota Sprinter
1993 Toyota Corolla Toyota Mark II Nissan March Nissan Sunny Toyota Crown Honda Civic Toyota Starlet Toyota Estima Toyota Sprinter Toyota Carina
1994 Toyota Corolla Toyota Mark II Nissan March Honda Civic Toyota Crown Nissan Sunny Toyota Estima Toyota Starlet Toyota Carina Toyota Sprinter
1995 Toyota Corolla Nissan March Toyota Crown Honda Odyssey Toyota Mark II Honda Civic Toyota Estima Nissan Sunny Toyota Starlet Toyota Sprinter
1996 Toyota Corolla Toyota Crown Nissan March Toyota Starlet Toyota Mark II Honda Odyssey Honda CR-V Toyota Estima Nissan Sunny Subaru Legacy
1997 Toyota Corolla Nissan March Toyota Mark II Toyota Starlet Honda Stepwgn Toyota Crown Toyota Ipsum Toyota Estima Mazda Demio Honda Odyssey
1998 Toyota Corolla Nissan Cube Mazda Demio Nissan March Toyota Starlet Honda Stepwgn Toyota Mark II Toyota Crown Mitsubishi Chariot Grandis Nissan Sunny
1999 Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Honda Stepwgn Toyota Crown Mazda Demio Nissan Cube Toyota Mark II Subaru Legacy Nissan March Toyota TownAce Noah
2000[23] Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Toyota Estima Honda Odyssey Toyota FunCargo Toyota Crown Toyota bB Nissan Cube Honda Stepwgn Mazda Demio
2001[24] Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Honda Stream Toyota Estima Honda Stepwgn Honda Fit Toyota Crown Nissan Cube Honda Odyssey Toyota FunCargo
2002[25] Honda Fit Toyota Corolla Nissan March Toyota Ist Toyota Vitz Toyota Noah Toyota Estima Toyota Voxy Nissan Cube Honda Mobilio
2003[26] Toyota Corolla Honda Fit Toyota Wish Nissan Cube Nissan March Toyota Ist Mazda Demio Toyota Noah Toyota Alphard Toyota Estima
2004[27] Toyota Corolla Honda Fit Nissan Cube Toyota Wish Toyota Crown Nissan March Honda Odyssey Toyota Ist Toyota Alphard Toyota Noah
2005[28] Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Honda Fit Nissan Tiida Nissan Note Toyota Wish Honda Stepwgn Toyota Passo Toyota Alphard Toyota Crown
2006[29] Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Honda Fit Toyota Estima Nissan Serena Honda Stepwgn Toyota Wish Toyota Ractis Toyota Passo Toyota Crown
2007[30] Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Honda Fit Toyota Passo Nissan Serena Toyota Estima Toyota Voxy Mazda Demio Nissan Tiida Toyota Noah
2008 Honda Fit Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Toyota Crown Toyota Prius Nissan Serena Toyota Passo Toyota Voxy Nissan Tiida Mazda Demio
2009[31] Toyota Vitz Honda Fit Toyota Vitz Toyota Passo Honda Insight Toyota Corolla Honda Freed Nissan Serena Toyota Voxy Nissan Note
2010[32] Toyota Prius Honda Fit Toyota Vitz Toyota Corolla Honda Freed Toyota Passo Honda Stepwgn Nissan Serena Toyota Voxy Nissan Note
2011[33] Toyota Prius Honda Fit Toyota Vitz Nissan Serena Toyota Corolla Honda Freed Mazda Demio Toyota Ractis Toyota Passo Nissan March
2012[34] Toyota Prius Toyota Aqua Honda Fit Honda Freed Toyota Vitz Nissan Serena Nissan Note Toyota Corolla Honda Stepwgn Toyota Vellfire
2013[35] Toyota Aqua Toyota Prius Honda Fit Nissan Note Toyota Corolla Nissan Serena Toyota Vitz Toyota Crown Honda Freed Honda Stepwgn
2014[36] Toyota Aqua Honda Fit Toyota Prius Toyota Corolla Toyota Voxy Nissan Note Honda Vezel Toyota Vitz Nissan Serena Toyota Noah
2015[37] Toyota Aqua Toyota Prius Honda Fit Toyota Corolla Nissan Note Toyota Voxy Toyota Vitz Mazda Demio Honda Vezel Toyota Sienta
2016[38] Toyota Prius Toyota Aqua Toyota Sienta Honda Fit Nissan Note Toyota Voxy Toyota Corolla Honda Vezel Nissan Serena Toyota Vitz
2017[39] Toyota Prius Nissan Note Toyota Aqua Toyota C-HR Honda Freed Honda Fit Toyota Sienta Toyota Vitz Toyota Voxy Nissan Serena
2018[40] Nissan Note Toyota Aqua Toyota Prius Nissan Serena Toyota Sienta Toyota Voxy Honda Fit Toyota Corolla Toyota Vitz Toyota Roomy
2019[41] Toyota Prius Nissan Note Toyota Sienta Toyota Corolla Toyota Aqua Nissan Serena Toyota Roomy Toyota Voxy Honda Freed Toyota Vitz
2020[42] Toyota Yaris Toyota Raize Toyota Corolla Honda Fit Toyota Alphard Toyota Roomy Honda Freed Toyota Sienta Nissan Note Toyota Voxy
2021[43] Toyota Yaris Toyota Roomy Toyota Corolla Toyota Alphard Nissan Note Toyota Raize Toyota Harrier Toyota Aqua Toyota Voxy Honda Freed
2022[44] Toyota Yaris Toyota Corolla Nissan Note Toyota Roomy Toyota Raize Honda Freed Toyota Aqua Toyota Sienta Honda Fit Toyota Alphard
2023[45] Toyota Yaris Toyota Corolla Toyota Sienta Nissan Note Toyota Roomy Toyota Prius Toyota Noah Toyota Voxy Toyota Aqua Honda Freed
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
See also : Best-selling models in

Kei cars

[edit]
Top 10 best-selling kei cars in Japan by nameplate[a] (excluding kei commercial vehicles), 2003–2023
Year Models and Ranking
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
2003[46] Daihatsu Move Suzuki Wagon R Honda Life Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Alto
2004[47] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Honda Life Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Tanto Mitsubishi eK Nissan Moco Subaru R2 Honda Vamos
2005[48] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Honda Life Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Tanto Mitsubishi eK Nissan Moco Honda That's Suzuki Kei
2006[49] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Daihatsu Tanto Honda Life Daihatsu Mira Honda Zest Mitsubishi eK Nissan Moco Suzuki MR Wagon
2007[50] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Mira Honda Life Suzuki Alto Nissan Moco Mitsubishi eK Subaru Stella Honda Zest
2008[51] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Tanto Honda Life Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Palette Suzuki Alto Nissan Moco Mitsubishi eK Subaru Stella
2009[52] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Alto Suzuki Palette Honda Life Nissan Roox Honda Zest Nissan Moco
2010[53] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Palette Honda Life Nissan Moco Nissan Roox Honda Zest
2011[54] Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Alto Honda Life Nissan Moco Suzuki Palette Nissan Roox Mitsubishi eK
2012[55] Daihatsu Mira Honda N-Box Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Nissan Moco Suzuki Palette Nissan Roox Honda Life
2013[56] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Move Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Tanto Suzuki Alto Honda N-One Suzuki Spacia Nissan Dayz Nissan Moco
2014[57] Daihatsu Tanto Honda N-Box Suzuki Wagon R Nissan Dayz Honda N-WGN Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Move Suzuki Spacia Suzuki Alto Suzuki Hustler
2015[58] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Tanto Nissan Dayz Daihatsu Move Suzuki Alto Suzuki Wagon R Honda N-WGN Suzuki Hustler Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Spacia
2016[59] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Move Nissan Dayz Daihatsu Tanto Suzuki Alto Honda N-WGN Suzuki Hustler Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Wagon R
2017[39] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Tanto Nissan Dayz Suzuki Wagon R Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Alto Honda N-WGN Suzuki Hustler
2018[40] Honda N-Box Suzuki Spacia Nissan Dayz Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Wagon R Suzuki Hustler Suzuki Alto Honda N-WGN
2019[60] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Tanto Suzuki Spacia Nissan Dayz Daihatsu Move Daihatsu Mira Suzuki Wagon R Suzuki Alto Suzuki Hustler Mitsubishi eK
2020[61] Honda N-Box Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Move Nissan Dayz Suzuki Hustler Daihatsu Mira Nissan Roox Honda N-WGN Suzuki Wagon R
2021[62] Honda N-Box Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Tanto Daihatsu Move Nissan Roox Suzuki Hustler Suzuki Wagon R Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Taft Suzuki Alto
2022[63] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Tanto Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Move Suzuki Wagon R Nissan Roox Suzuki Hustler Suzuki Alto Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Taft
2023[64] Honda N-Box Daihatsu Tanto Suzuki Spacia Daihatsu Move Suzuki Hustler Suzuki Wagon R Nissan Roox Suzuki Alto Daihatsu Mira Daihatsu Taft
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
See also : Best-selling models in

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA) grouped vehicle sales by nameplate, which means different models with the same nameplate such as the Toyota Yaris and Toyota Yaris Cross or the Daihatsu Mira and Daihatsu Mira Gino are counted as a single model.

References

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Further reading

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Videos
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