Toyota Motor probably be No.1 Japanese automaker by 2021 China retail sales

In November, the four Japanese automakers, Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, Nissan Motor, and Mazda Motor—still logged year-on-year decrease in their China auto retail sales as car outputs were whittled down by the chip supply constraint. Of them, Toyota Motor posted the least decline and regained the sales championship after being outsold by Honda Motor in October.

As for year-to-date performance, Toyota Motor still topped the other three in China retail sales and was the only one maintaining growth compared to the year-ago period. Due to the significant lead over the others, it is reasonable to assume that Toyota Motor will be crowned the No.1 Japanese carmaker in terms of the full-year China sales.

As of Nov. 2021, Toyota's China business had posted year-on-year decrease in monthly retail sales for four consecutive months. However, its decrease in Nov. sales was much smaller than that of October.

The Japanese auto giant's China product lineup was remarkably expanded in November. At the Auto Guangzhou 2021, GAC Toyota's all-new compact SUV Frontlander and the all-new SUV Venza made their world's debut, and will go on sale in late-December and next year's first quarter respectively. FAW-Toyota showcased the mid-sized SUV Harrier, which hit the market on Nov. 11.

Sienna MPV; photo credit: GAC Toyota

Besides, the China-made Sienna MPV, which was put onto the market by GAC Toyota at the end of October, also contributed to Toyota's China sales in November.

Lexus saw its China sales plunge 43.9% over a year earlier to 11,600 units. With only imported modelssold in the world's largest auto market, the Toyota Motor-owned premium car brand is facing inventory shortage amongst chip crunch and the squeezed market share by China's locally-built cars.

VEZEL; photo credit: GAC Honda

Honda Motor said its China retail sales in Nov. plunged 20.2 % year on year due to the auto parts supply constraints as well. Compared to October, it also recorded a 7.9% drop.
Both GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda logged two-digit year-on-year decrease in Nov. retail sales.

Despite the sales drop, Honda Motor also performed actively in roll-out of new products. Dongfeng Honda's new INSPIRE went on sale in mid-Nov. with both oil-fueled and hybrid versions offered. GAC Honda's all-new compact sedan Integra has been available for presale and will go on sale in mid-December.

Nissan's China retail sales in Nov. amounted to 114,073 units, sliding 27% year on year, while edging up 0.2% month on month.

Dongfeng Nissan, the passenger vehicle business unit of the joint venture Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), saw its Nov. retail sales dwindle 29.2% to 96,155 units, 86,030 units and 10,125 units of which were under Nissan and Venucia brands respectively.

e-POWER-enabled Sylphy; photo credit: Dongfeng Nissan

Regarding new products, Dongfeng Nissan began the presale of the e-POWER-enabled Syhlphy at the Auto Guangzhou and will start the car delivery from mid-December. The model is expected to drive Nissan's sales in China relying on the outstanding energy-saving performance of the e-POWER hybrid system.

Mazda3 Axela; photo credit: Changan Mazda

Mazda's China retail volume fell 21.2% from the year-ago period in November, representing downward movement for eight consecutive months. Its best-selling model of the month was the Mazda3 Axela, with 9,031 vehicles sold.

Among the four Japanese automakers, Mazda was the only one that recorded two-digit decrease in terms of year-to-date sales.