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

The Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA) announced on January 8 that the sales volume of imported vehicles (excluding Japanese manufacturers) is expected to increase by 7% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 243,129 units. This marks the first positive growth in two years. Among these, the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) grew by 26%, reaching 30,513 units, setting a new historical record. The increase in sales from electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla in the United States has boosted the overall figures.

Japan’s EV sales have increased for seven consecutive years. In 2025, EVs will account for 13% of total sales, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. Tesla did not disclose its domestic sales in Japan, but the company’s sales in the “other” category, which it dominates, increased by 88%, rising to 10,693 units. This means that Tesla’s sales in Japan have surpassed 10,000 units for the first time, with the brand ranking moving up from 10th last year to 7th this year.

BYD’s sales in Japan increased by 62%, reaching 3,870 units. The SUV “Sea Lion 7,” launched in April 2025, continues to sell well, significantly boosting sales. In summer 2026, BYD plans to launch its light electric vehicle “Racco” in the Japanese market, aiming to further expand its market share.

To continue reading, please click here to enter the Nikkei Chinese website.

The Nikkei Inc. and the Financial Times merged in November 2015 to become one media group. The alliance formed between the two newspapers, which were both founded in the 19th century in Japan and the UK, is advancing cooperation in a wide range of areas, including special features, under the banner of “high quality and the strongest economic journalism.” As part of this, the Chinese websites of the two newspapers have implemented an article exchange.