Group 1 - In 2025, Japan's imported car sales (excluding domestic manufacturers) increased by 7% year-on-year, reaching 243,129 units, marking the first positive growth in two years [1] - Electric vehicle (EV) sales grew by 26% to 30,513 units, achieving a record high, with Tesla and other EV manufacturers contributing to this increase [1] - EVs accounted for 13% of total sales in 2025, up 2 percentage points from the previous year, indicating a continuous growth trend for EVs in Japan over the past seven years [1] Group 2 - Tesla's sales in Japan, although not officially disclosed, saw an 88% increase in the "other" category, reaching 10,693 units, marking the first time Tesla's sales exceeded 10,000 units in Japan, moving up from 10th to 7th place in brand rankings [1] - BYD's sales in Japan surged by 62% to 3,870 units, driven by the strong performance of the SUV "Hai Lion 7," which was launched in April 2025 [1] - Hyundai's sales increased by 89% to 1,169 units, supported by the strong sales of the small EV "INSTER," which is well-suited for Japan's narrow roads and is competitively priced [3] Group 3 - In terms of brand performance, Mercedes-Benz saw a 4% decrease in sales, dropping to 50,857 units, while BMW's sales grew by 1% to 35,729 units, and Volkswagen's sales increased by 36% to 31,031 units [3] - The overall sales of imported cars in December 2025 showed a slight increase of 0.3% year-on-year, reaching 23,551 units, although EV sales decreased by 14% to 2,549 units during the same period [5] - The Japanese government announced an increase in the subsidy cap for purchasing EVs starting January 1, 2026, which may have temporarily affected consumer purchasing behavior [5]

Core Insights - Japan's imported car sales (excluding domestic manufacturers) increased by 7% in 2025, reaching 243,129 units, marking the first positive growth in two years [1] - Electric vehicle (EV) sales grew by 26%, totaling 30,513 units, setting a new historical record, driven by increased sales from manufacturers like Tesla [1][3] - Tesla's sales in Japan saw an 88% increase, surpassing 10,000 units for the first time, while BYD's sales rose by 62% to 3,870 units, supported by the strong performance of the "海狮7" SUV [3][5] Group 1: EV Market Performance - EVs accounted for 13% of total car sales in Japan in 2025, up 2 percentage points from the previous year [3] - BYD's "海狮7" SUV, launched in April 2025, significantly boosted its sales, and the company plans to introduce the "Racco" model in summer 2026 to further increase market share [3] - Hyundai's EV sales increased by 89% to 1,169 units, driven by the strong performance of the "INSTER" model [5] Group 2: Brand Performance - Mercedes-Benz saw a 4% decline in sales, dropping to 50,857 units, while BMW's sales grew by 1% to 35,729 units, and Volkswagen's sales increased by 36% to 31,031 units [6] - The price segment analysis showed a 3% increase in sales for vehicles priced over 10 million yen, reaching 40,602 units, while the segment below 4 million yen saw a 7% increase to 42,789 units [8] Group 3: Market Trends and Government Policy - In December 2025, imported car sales in Japan grew by 0.3% year-on-year to 23,551 units, but EV sales decreased by 14% to 2,549 units due to a temporary purchasing slowdown caused by changes in government subsidies [8]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the growth in Japan's imported vehicle market, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), with a notable increase in sales for Chinese manufacturer BYD [1] - In May, the total imported vehicle sales reached 18,198 units, marking a 6% year-on-year increase, while EV sales surged by 62% to 2,406 units, accounting for 13% of total imports [1] - BYD's sales in Japan saw a remarkable year-on-year growth of 420%, reaching 424 units, driven by the successful launch of the SUV "Haiyan 07" EV version [1] Group 2 - The sales of vehicles priced over 10 million yen increased by 11% to 2,985 units, while those priced between 4 million and 10 million yen rose by 9% to 11,343 units [2] - Conversely, the sales of vehicles priced below 4 million yen declined by 7% to 3,208 units [2]