BYD sold 1,084 vehicles in Japan in the first half of this year and currently holds a 2.7% share of the Japanese electric vehicle market.
Data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA) shows that in the first half of this year, Japan’s total car imports were 113,887 units, a year-on-year decrease of 7%. However, imports of electric vehicles are increasing. Data show that Japan’s electric vehicle imports increased by 17% year-on-year to 10,785 units in the first half of this year, accounting for nearly 10% of total vehicle imports.
According to preliminary data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, Japan Light Vehicles and Motorcycle Association, and Japan Automobile Importers Association, in the first half of this year, domestic electric vehicle sales in Japan were 29,282 units, a year-on-year decrease of 39%. The decline was mainly due to a 38% drop in sales of the Nissan Sakura five-door mini electric car, which is somewhat similar to the Wuling Hongguang MINI electric car. During the same period, sales of light passenger electric vehicles in Japan were 13,540 units, of which Nissan Sakura accounted for 90%. Overall, electric vehicles accounted for 1.6% of the Japanese passenger car market in the first half of the year, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from the same period last year.
Market intelligence agency Argus claims that foreign brands currently dominate the Japanese electric vehicle market. The agency quoted a representative of the Japan Automobile Importers Association as saying that foreign automakers offer a wider range of electric models than domestic Japanese automakers.
On January 31 last year, BYD began selling the Atto 3 SUV (called "Yuan PLUS" in China) in Japan. BYD launched the Dolphin hatchback in Japan last September and the Seal sedan in June this year.
In the first half of this year, BYD's sales in Japan increased by 88% year-on-year. The growth helped BYD jump from 19th to 14th in Japan's importer sales rankings. In June, BYD's car sales in Japan were 149 units, a year-on-year increase of 60%. BYD plans to increase its sales outlets in Japan from the current 55 to 90 by the end of this year. In addition, BYD plans to sell 30,000 cars in the Japanese market in 2025.
Post time: Jul-26-2024