Japan’s Imported Automobile Market in 2021

Japan’s imported automobile sales increased 8.4% in 2021 from the previous year to 344,552 units. Japanese brand vehicles imported from abroad rose 37.1% to 84,800 units, pushing up overall imported vehicle sales. Nissan, which started importing the Kicks in June 2020, increased 81.7% to 43,872 units, rising to second place after Mercedes-Benz. Looking at monthly sales, in the first eight months, sales results surpassed those of the previous year mostly because of the negative impact of the pandemic in 2020. However, from September sales fell below the previous year’s level due to production stoppages triggered by semiconductor shortages and the reemergence of the new coronavirus infection.