Japan’s Domestic EV Sales Decline Amid Import Reductions

JAIA

In September, Japan’s domestic electric vehicle (EV) market continued its downward trend, marking the eleventh consecutive month of decline. Sales reached 6,429 units, reflecting a 28.7% decrease from the same period last year, according to preliminary data from key industry groups, including the Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA). However, on a month-to-month basis, sales saw a significant rebound of 45.3%.

Decline Driven by Reduced Foreign Imports

One of the key factors behind this persistent drop in EV sales is the reduced import of foreign EV models. Foreign brand EV sales fell for the second month in a row, reaching 2,739 units—a 13.4% drop compared to September of last year when imports exceeded 3,150 units. Despite this decline, imported EVs still made up 43% of Japan’s total EV sales in September, underlining their popularity among consumers, who favor the variety of models offered by foreign manufacturers.

On the domestic front, sales from local manufacturers have been sluggish. Notably, Nissan’s Sakura model, a leader in Japan’s EV market, saw a sharp decline of 34.6%, selling only 2,485 units in September. Despite this, the Sakura model still accounted for 38.7% of Japan’s total EV sales, underscoring its importance to the domestic market.