Domestic New Car Sales Rise 5.1% as Environmental Performance Tax Is Abolished, Highest Since the Pandemic

時事通信··JP·Read original
3▲5 ▼0Impact / 5
Summary · why it matters

New car sales in Japan for the first half of fiscal 2026, from April to September, rose 5.1% year on year to 2,292,064 units, the highest level since fiscal 2020, when sales slumped due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The abolition of the environmental performance tax on automobile purchases at the end of March provided a tailwind. The figures were announced on the 1st by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the National Light Motor Vehicle Association. By category, registered vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks drove the overall increase, rising 9.6% to 1,504,178 units, with notable growth from Toyota Motor and Honda, while Mazda and others that introduced new models also posted gains. Meanwhile, light motor vehicles, which saw few refreshed models or new launches, fell 2.5% to 787,886 units, marking their first decline in two years. Sales for the single month of September, announced at the same time, rose 1.3% year on year to 433,683 units, with registered vehicles up 2.5% for a sixth consecutive month of growth, while light motor vehicles slipped 0.6%; among the latter, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors posted increases on the strength of new models launched last autumn.

Impact on assets 5

Electrification & Mobility▲
Toyota Motor Corp.
7203
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Toyota showed notable growth as registered-vehicle sales rose 9.6% in H1 FY2026.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
7267
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Honda among the registered-vehicle makers driving the 9.6% rise in H1 FY2026 new car sales.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
7201
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Nissan posted a September increase on the strength of new models launched last autumn.

Mazda Motor Corp.
7261
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Mazda posted gains on the strength of newly introduced models in the April-September period.