Japan’s New Auto Sales Up for 1st Time in 2 Yrs

Tokyo, Jan. 5 (Jiji Press)–New automobile sales in Japan rose 3.3 pct from the previous year to 4,565,777 units in 2025, the first increase in two years, industry data showed Monday. The rise came as sales at Daihatsu Motor Co. jumped more than 40 pct, after a drop in 2024 due to a scandal over fraudulent vehicle tests, according to data by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association. Still, the annual total remained below the pre-pandemic level of over 5 million units. A lack of major new model launches weighed on the market, with three of the eight major automakers posting declines. Toyota Motor Corp. recorded a 4.1 pct increase. Sales at Nissan Motor Co., which is undergoing restructuring, fell 15.2 pct. Honda Motor Co.’s sales dropped 7.3 pct on sluggish demand for its passenger cars. Looking ahead, the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association said that consumers may delay purchases due to inflation and the planned scrapping of the environmental performance tax on automobiles at the end of March. It said that it hopes initial New Year sales campaigns and the fiscal year-end sales season will help energize the market. In December alone, new auto sales rose 1.7 pct from a year before to 335,459 units as Daihatsu’s Move and other new minivehicle models sold well. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]