Honda N-Box Remains Best-Selling Car in Japan in April-Sept.

October 4, 2018

Tokyo- Honda Motor Co.'s N-Box was the best-selling automobile in Japan in April-September, topping the fiscal first-half new car sales rankings for the second straight year, industry data showed Thursday.

Its sales came to 117,100 units in the first six months of fiscal 2018, up 23.8 pct from a year before.

Including the N-Box, seven minivehicle models were on the top 10 list, up from six a year earlier. Sales of minivehicles, with an engine displacement of up to 660 cc, were brisk as more models are now equipped with advanced driving assist features, industry sources said.

Of the other six minivehicle models, Suzuki Motor Corp.'s Spacia ranked second, with sales of 73,606 units, up 52.1 pct. Daihatsu Motor Co.'s Tanto came fourth and Nissan Motor Co.'s Dayz fifth. Daihatsu's Move came seventh, the Mira, also from Daihatsu, ninth, and Suzuki's Wagon R 10th.

Minivehicles with extended heights have been popular, according to the sources.

Among larger vehicle models, Nissan's Note ranked third, with sales reaching 63,303 units.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius flagship hybrid vehicle, which ranked second in the first half of fiscal 2017, retreated to eighth place as its sales dived 30.9 pct to 54,388 units.

In September alone, the N-Box was at the top of the list for the 13th consecutive month, while the Dayz ranked second and the Spacia third. Sales of the top three models stood at 22,540 units, 15,070 units and 13,801 units, respectively.

The sales rankings are based on data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association. Jiji Press