June Sales Down By Double Digits In Japan – Imports Continue To Defy Detroit Propaganda

Sales of all new motor vehicles in Japan were down 10.8 percent in June, continuing a down trend after the Japanese government discontinued subsidies on eco-friendly cars in September last year.  Sales of minivehicles, and especially sales of imported cars softened the blow.

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The percentage drop looks worse than it is. It compares with a June 2012 when sales were up 43.6 in a last rush to cash in on the soon to expire subsidies. Later in the year, the percentage drop should normalize when we compare with more sedate sales in the prior year.

Regular vehicle sales Japan June 2013
Manufacturer	June ’13	June ’12	YoY	YTD ’13	YTD ’12	YoY
Daihatsu	339	306	10.8%	1,221	1,579	-22.7%
Hino	3,826	3,687	3.8%	22,382	21,276	5.2%
Honda	26,757	45,159	-40.7%	155,827	269,272	-42.1%
Isuzu	4,858	5,087	-4.5%	28,419	30,234	-6.0%
Lexus	3,935	4,081	-3.6%	22,890	22,863	0.1%
Mazda	14,592	16,116	-9.5%	88,001	91,431	-3.8%
Mitsubishi	3,053	4,481	-31.9%	30,174	30,488	-1.0%
Mitsubishi Fuso	3,233	3,497	-7.5%	16,817	18,264	-7.9%
Nissan	37,309	42,614	-12.4%	266,278	278,411	-4.4%
Subaru	10,595	7,959	33.1%	66,619	47,881	39.1%
Suzuki	7,067	9,077	-22.1%	42,400	50,545	-16.1%
Toyota	121,514	148,788	-18.3%	762,576	871,483	-12.5%
UD Trucks	846	912	-7.2%	4,181	4,845	-13.7%
Other	28,989	25,388	14.2%	133,247	118,362	12.6%
Total	266,913	317,152	-15.8%	1,641,032	1,856,934	-11.6%
Domestic	232,282	286,735	-19.0%	1,470,304	1,706,266	-13.8%
Imports	34,631	30,417	13.9%	170,728	150,668	13.3%
Data courtesy Japan Automobile Dealers Association

In the regular vehicle category,  sales were down 15.8 percent. Domestic cars were down  19 percent, however, Japanese  continue to buy more cars imported into a market that Detroit automakers say is closed. Luckily, Japanese buyers don’t listen to the propaganda. They also don’t seem to be affected with the slightly lower yen, which should make imports more expensive.

Mini vehicle sales Japan June 2013
Manufacturer	June ’13	June ’12	YoY	YTD ’13	YTD ’12	YoY
Suzuki	53,598	54,400	-1.5%	318,326	316,507	0.6%
Daihatsu	54,592	67,354	-18.9%	341,002	380,079	-10.3%
Mitsubishi	11,396	7,459	52.8%	39,439	47,427	-16.8%
Subaru	4,473	5,313	-15.8%	28,715	46,836	-38.7%
Honda	33,217	29,841	11.3%	212,240	161,676	31.3%
Mazda	4,439	4,226	5.0%	28,960	28,087	3.1%
Nissan	19,144	14,293	33.9%	81,368	88,207	-7.8%
Toyota	3,055	5,299	-42.3%	20,560	21,580	-4.7%
Other	1	4	-75.0%	6	23	-73.9%
Total	183,915	188,189	-2.3%	1,070,616	1,090,422	-1.8%
Data courtesy Japan Mini Vehicles Association

Japan’s love-affair with the minivehicles continues. Sales of kei cars were down only 2.3 percent.Nissan and Mitsubishi profit from the launch of the Dayz/ek Wagon.

Total vehicle sales Japan June 2013
Manufacturer	June ’13	June ’12	YoY	YTD ’13	YTD ’12	YoY
Daihatsu	54,931	67,660	-18.8%	342,223	381,658	-10.3%
Hino	3,826	3,687	3.8%	22,382	21,276	5.2%
Honda	59,974	75,000	-20.0%	368,067	430,948	-14.6%
Isuzu	4,858	5,087	-4.5%	28,419	30,234	-6.0%
Lexus	3,935	4,081	-3.6%	22,890	22,863	0.1%
Mazda	19,031	20,342	-6.4%	116,961	119,518	-2.1%
Mitsubishi	14,449	11,940	21.0%	69,613	77,915	-10.7%
Mitsubishi Fuso	3,233	3,497	-7.5%	16,817	18,264	-7.9%
Nissan	56,453	56,907	-0.8%	347,646	366,618	-5.2%
Subaru	15,068	13,272	13.5%	95,334	94,717	0.7%
Suzuki	60,665	63,477	-4.4%	360,726	367,052	-1.7%
Toyota	124,569	154,087	-19.2%	783,136	893,063	-12.3%
UD Trucks	846	912	-7.2%	4,181	4,845	-13.7%
Other	28,990	25,392	14.2%	133,253	118,385	12.6%
Total	450,828	505,341	-10.8%	2,711,648	2,947,356	-8.0%

All in all, sales were down 10.8 percent in June, and 8 percent for the first half of the year. Forecasters had expected a much bigger drop after the subsidies had pulled a lot of sales forward.

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