Suzuki overtakes Nissan

Suzuki Motor was Japan’s third-biggest carmaker by sales last year after overtaking Nissan for the first time in more than 10 years.

Suzuki sold 3.3 million cars worldwide in 2025 after recording a year-on-year increase of 1.4 per cent, while Nissan’s figures came in at 3.2 million units after a drop of 4.4 per cent.

The former notes overall sales were up for the fifth consecutive year, thanks to a one per cent rise in the Japanese market and a 1.5 climb overseas.

Sales of Nissan cars in Japan fell 17 per cent last year and mini-vehicles were down by 12.5 per cent. Activity outside Japan also declined 2.6 per cent from the previous year.

Toyota Motor Company remained Japan’s number one automotive firm with annual sales of its Toyota and Lexus vehicles increasing by 3.7 per cent to a record 10.5 million units last year.

Its activity inside Japan grew by 4.1 per cent to 1.5 million and trade for the rest of the world was up by 3.6 per cent to nine million.

Honda was the second-best performer with 3.5 million units, which was down 7.5 per cent on its 2024 numbers.