The Japanese automobile market declined by 12.1% in the first half of 2024
- The Japanese automobile market for passenger cars fell by 12.1% in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, going from 2,047,694 units to 1,800,077 (for the record: first half of 2023/first half of 2022 = +19.5%).
- The main reasons for this sharp drop are essentially explained by the certification test fraud scandal at Daihatsu, a subsidiary of the Toyota group and one of the two main producers of midgets with Suzuki, its competitor.
- Daihatsu production had to be stopped for several weeks during the first quarter of 2024, which led to a collapse in the brand's sales between January and June 2024, falling from 229,000 units in the first half of 2023 to 69,000 in the first half. 2024, which represents a drop of 160,000 sales only partially offset by Suzuki (+48,000 sales) and Honda (+61,000 sales) which also manufacture midgets.
- But the backlash was felt at Toyota, the owner of Daihatsu, which itself suffered a drop of 166,000 sales in the first half of 2024, going from 775,000 sales to 609,000, a fall offset by no other manufacturer.
- Nissan is stable (208,000 sales versus 209,000) like Subaru (47,000 sales versus 46,000). Mazda is even in decline (64,000 sales compared to 93,000). Only Mitsubishi saw its sales increase, but very modestly (52,000 sales compared to 45,000).
- After the dismissal of Daihatsu's CEO in February 2024, the brand's production has gradually restarted and things have started to return to normal since May-June.