BYD will sell 3,870 units in Japan by 2025.

The Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA) reported data released on January 8 showing that in 2025, imported car sales (excluding cars from Japanese manufacturers) rose 7% year over year to 243,129 units. This is the first time in two years that sales have returned to positive growth.

Sales of all-electric vehicles (EVs) increased 26%, reaching 30,513 units, setting a record high. Sales increases from pure-electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla in the U.S. pushed the overall figure upward.

Japan’s EV sales have grown for seven consecutive years. In 2025, EVs accounted for 13% of total sales, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. Tesla in the U.S. has not disclosed its domestic Japan sales, but the company’s sales under the “other” category—where it makes up the majority—rose 88%, to 10,693 units. This means Tesla’s Japan sales first surpassed 10,000 units, and its brand ranking climbed from 10th last year to 7th.

BYD (BYD) saw its Japan sales rise 62% to 3,870 units. The SUV “Sealion 7,” launched in April 2025, continues to sell strongly and has significantly boosted sales. In the summer of 2026, BYD will introduce a light electric vehicle “Racco（海獭）” to the Japanese market, aiming to further expand its market share.

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The Japan Economic News Agency and the Financial Times merged into the same media group in November 2015. The alliance between two newspapers—both founded in the 19th century, in Japan and the UK—is moving forward with broad areas of collaboration such as joint special features under the banner of “high-quality, the most powerful business journalism.” This time, as part of that effort, the Chinese websites of the two newspapers have enabled article exchanges.