Japan In November 2011: Double-Digit Up

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Regular Vehicle Sales Japan November 2011

ManufacturerNov ’11Nov ’10ChangeFYTD’11FYTD’10ChangeDaihatsu29625715.2%2,8745,621-48.9%Hino3,0682,54020.8%30,79226,61715.7%Honda32,77732,2941.5%347,587457,669-24.1%Isuzu4,1853,27028.0%37,80240,591-6.9%Lexus3,7951,93895.8%40,12331,75226.4%Mazda10,8797,05054.3%135,236166,853-18.9%Mitsubishi4,5503,02650.4%51,50564,885-20.6%Mitsubishi Fuso3,1592,05953.4%24,44822,6697.8%Nissan39,47031,48625.4%411,811474,380-13.2%Subaru4,8414,39610.1%66,95973,958-9.5%Suzuki6,0803,94854.0%71,00754,48330.3%Toyota120,30596,87424.2%1,056,1051,453,901-27.4%UD Trucks95555970.8%7,5937,5101.1%Other17,87613,54931.9%183,272169,1618.3%Total252,236203,24624.1%2,467,1143,050,050-19.1%

All things are relative: Now that we are comparing with absolutely dismal numbers in the preceding year, November car sales in Japan look downright healthy. Sales of new cars, trucks and buses were 252,236 units, up 24.1 percent from a year earlier in November, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association says. The numbers do not include sales of separately reported minivehicles.

Mini Vehicle Sales Japan November 2011

ManufacturerNov ’11Nov ’10ChangeYTD’11YTD’10ChangeSuzuki45,24342,2237.2%438,237528,132-17.0%Daihatsu52,36140,32229.9%497,827564,212-11.8%Mitsubishi6,9069,101-24.1%85,945102,026-15.8%Subaru9,3226,29948.0%76,28992,020-17.1%Honda8,1509,141-10.8%114,486147,689-22.5%Mazda3,9512,84738.8%42,55747,403-10.2%Nissan15,33610,40847.3%134,399136,661-1.7%Toyota2,05904,120Other313-76.9%4092-56.5%Total143,331120,35419.1%1,393,9001,618,235-13.9%

Sales of mini, or kei cars rose 19.1 percent in November year-on-year, the Japan Mini Vehicle Association reports. Counting advice: Fiscal (April-November) year for regular cars, calendar (January-November) year for kei cars.

All Vehicle Sales Japan November 2011, Consolidated

ManufacturerNov ’11Nov ’10ChangeDaihatsu52,65740,57929.8%Hino3,0682,54020.8%Honda40,92741,435-1.2%Isuzu4,1853,27028.0%Lexus3,7951,93895.8%Mazda14,8309,89749.8%Mitsubishi11,45612,127-5.5%Mitsubishi Fuso3,1592,05953.4%Nissan54,80641,89430.8%Subaru14,16310,69532.4%Suzuki51,32346,17111.2%Toyota122,36496,87426.3%UD Trucks95555970.8%Other17,87913,56231.8%Total395,567323,60022.2%

Consolidated across mini and regular vehicles, sales grew 22.2 percent according to our spreadsheet. No year-to-date numbers due to the aforementioned differences.


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
  • Sgt Beavis Sgt Beavis on Dec 02, 2011

    There are still a lot of cars that need to be replaced after last spring's triple whammy.

  • Marc Marc on Dec 02, 2011

    Lexus seems to be doing well? How is it comparing to the imported luxury brands?

  • Michael Gallagher I agree to a certain extent but I go back to the car SUV transition. People began to buy SUVs because they were supposedly safer because of their larger size when pitted against a regular car. As more SUVs crowded the road that safety advantage began to dwindle as it became more likely to hit an equally sized SUV. Now there is no safety advantage at all.
  • Probert The new EV9 is even bigger - a true monument of a personal transportation device. Not my thing, but credit where credit is due - impressive. The interior is bigger than my house and much nicer with 2 rows of lounge seats and 3rd for the plebes. 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, around 300miles of range, and an e-mpg of 80 (90 for the 2wd). What a world.
  • Ajla "Like showroom" is a lame description but he seems negotiable on the price and at least from what the two pictures show I've dealt with worse. But, I'm not interested in something with the Devil's configuration.
  • Tassos Jong-iL I really like the C-Class, it reminds me of some trips to Russia to visit Dear Friend VladdyPoo.
  • ToolGuy New Hampshire
Next