As soon as once more, the Japanese new automobile market was dominated by Kei automobiles. These microcars are designed, constructed, and bought solely for Japanese customers, and regardless of the rise in recognition of different physique types corresponding to SUVs, they’re merely too widespread to die.
Based on the newest knowledge from JATO Dynamics, Kei automobiles bought 1.17 million models in Japan final 12 months. Although quantity is down 4 % from 2021, these iconic autos have gained market share throughout the passenger automobile market in Japan. Their share rose from 33.4 % in 2021 to 34.1 % in 2022. In different phrases, greater than one in three new passenger automobiles bought in Japan is a Kei automobile.
Why Are They So Standard?
In brief, they’re reasonably priced to buy and preserve. Kei automobiles are a necessary factor of the Japanese automotive business. They hold native factories alive and assist preserve a powerful sense of native delight amid the numerous merchandise constructed for export.
The Japanese authorities has created particular laws that goals to stimulate native manufacturing and gross sales of those small automobiles. The purpose is to make higher use of the restricted area on the streets of this already crowded nation. With no massive parking areas and excessive vitality prices (Japan relies upon closely on vitality imports), Japanese drivers want small, environment friendly automobiles to get round their cities.
Who’s Who In The Kei Automotive Market
To be labeled as a Kei automobile a automobile should not be longer than 11 ft (3.4 meters), wider than 4.9 ft (1.48 meters), and taller than 6.6 ft (2 meters). As well as, the automobile should be powered by an engine with a displacement no bigger than 660cc. This particular laws has pressured native manufacturers to create particular automobiles for the Japanese market that haven’t any potential exterior Japan.
Because of this, your complete Kei automobile section consists of Japanese manufacturers. Japan’s prime eight corporations are the one ones promoting these automobiles. And guess what? Toyota is the second smallest by way of gross sales quantity, in no way a section chief.
In 2022, that honor went to Daihatsu, the sister model of Toyota, with practically 349,000 models bought(excluding mild industrial Kei automobiles). This can be a market share of virtually 30 %. In second was Suzuki, recognized worldwide for its small automobiles. This model bought 336,200 models, down 6 % from 2021. In third place is Honda at 263,200 models, up 1 %. From there, the “smaller Kei automobile corporations are Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru.
The Honda N-Field In The Lead
The most well-liked Kei automobile in 2022 was the Honda N-Field. The most recent replace allowed this automobile to extend gross sales by 7 %, reaching 202,200 models. That is virtually double the amount bought by the second-placed Daihatsu Tanto. In actual fact, Daihatsu managed to outsell the Suzuki Spacia, the second hottest in 2021 and third within the 2022 rating.
However the massive shock by way of volumes and novelties was the Nissan Sakura. It was launched final 12 months as the primary all-electric Kei automobile in Japan. The model bought practically 21,900 models of this cute EV, which means it was nonetheless removed from the leaders. Nevertheless, as is occurring with massive vans within the US and huge MPVs in China, the Sakura is just the start of a brand new period for iconic Japanese small automobiles that you simply in all probability will not see in your metropolis streets.
The writer of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Trade Specialist at JATO Dynamics.
