According to registration data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Japan’s new vehicle market in December 2025 expanded by approximately 1.7% year-on-year to about 335,459 units, ending the year on a positive note after five months of contraction. This brought total 2025 sales to around 4.56 million units, up about 3.3% from 2024.

Passenger cars saw a 3.0% uplift, while truck sales increased by 3.9%. The overall market remained cautious amid rising loan repayment costs for consumers and a decadel-high policy rate from the Bank of Japan, but the December uptick offered signs of stabilization heading into 2026.