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In 2023, Daihatsu sold about 565.9 thousand kei cars, thus remaining the leading mini car manufacturer in Japan. Known as kei cars in Japan, the often box-shaped light motor passenger vehicles are a distinctive feature of the domestic automotive market scarcely sold outside of the country.

A large selection of mini-sized vehicles

Wholly-owned Toyota Motor Corporation subsidiary Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. specializes in light motor vehicle production. Daihatsu’s line-up includes a segment of mini sized assisted-mobility vehicles, allowing easier access for wheelchair users. Besides mini passenger cars, the company offers a variety of mini-sized commercial vehicles (trucks and vans).

Big profits through small cars

While Daihatsu is the most successful automotive brand in terms of overall mini car sales, the best-selling kei car model of 2023 was produced by Honda. All of the country’s major automobile makers, catering to the continuing domestic demand of light motor vehicles, engage in kei car production.

Leading minicar manufacturers in Japan in 2023, based on sales (in 1,000 units)

Characteristic	Sales in thousand units
Daihatsu	565.93
Suzuki	531.71
Honda	318.56
Nissan	189.63
Mitsubishi	57.85
Mazda	35.31
Toyota	29.51
Subaru	16.2

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Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

Japan

Survey time period

2023

Special properties

figures include new registrations of passenger cars and commercial vehicles

Supplementary notes

According to the source, Japanese minicars or kei cars are vehicles that are shorter than 3.4 meters with a maximum height of 2 meters and a maximum width of 1.48 meters. The engine capacity is restricted to 0.66 liters measured by Japanese standards. Kei cars are often box shaped in order to minimize the overall size of the vehicle while maximizing interior space.

Values have been rounded.

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