Car of the Year 2012-2013 won by CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5 was chosen for the "CAR OF THE YEAR JAPAN 2012-2013". The five-door crossover admired for its SKYACTIV technology, the new clean diesel engine.

Suzuki reached 20M kei-car sales in Japan

New Wagon R has lithium ion buttery to generate electricity when breaking

Suzuki announced that it sold total of 20 million kei cars in Japan for the first time as an auto manufacturer.
The record was achieved in 56 years and 11 months since after it released Suzulight in 1955.

Sales of Leading Models of Suzuki

Alto - 5.19M
Carry - 4.14M
Wagon R - 3.79M
Every - 2.50M
Suzulight Fronte - 1.70M
Cervo - 0.84M
Jimny - 0.67M


スズキ、軽四輪車の国内累計販売台数2000万台を達成…スズライト発売から56年11か月　―レスポンス
http://response.jp/article/2012/09/13/181290.html

35 percents of driving license holders do not drive

A car with symbol of a newly-licensed driver

Research
Term: 2012/4/3 - 2012/4/7
Respondents: MyNavi News website membership users
Valid Responses: 1,000(requires log in)


Q: Do you have a driving license?

YES - 81.6%
NO - 18.4%


Q: Among the license holders, do you have a car?
(including the one of which the title is someone else)

YES - 62.4%
NO - 37.6%


Q: Are you a paper-driver(person with license who does not drive)?

YES - 34.6%
NO - 65.4%


Q: How long have you been a paper-driver?

Below half a year - 8.4%
Less than a year- 8.1%
Less than 2 years - 11.8%
Less than 3 years - 7.5%
Less than 4 years - 9.5%
Less than 5 years - 7.8%
Less than 6 years - 11.6%
Less than 7 years - 6.7%
Less than 8 years - 5.8%
Less than 9 years - 5.8%
Less than 10 years - 3.8%
More than 10 years - 13.3%


Q: Among paper-drivers, would you like to have a car?

YES - 29.8%
NO - 70.2%


ペーパードライバーが多すぎる件　―マイナビニュース
http://news.mynavi.jp/c_career/level1/yoko/2012/08/post_2152.html


-FACTS-
Living in Japanese cities where public transportation such as underground railways, trams, buses and taxies are well developed does not require personal cars. In addition, maintenance costs of car including parking fee is severe in cities like Tokyo.

51 Kei-cars per 100 Japanese households

SUZUKI"Wagon R STINGRAY", a family of Wagon R, long time popular Kei in Japan

Japan Mini Vehicles Association in August 17th announced that the number of Kei-cars(light automobile) in Japan reached the record large of 27,607,891 or 51 Kei-cars per 100 households.

The Number of Kei-cars per 100 Households by Prefectures

1 :Tottori - 99
2 :Saga - 98.7
3 :Shimane - 97.3
-------------------
47:Tokyo - 11.1


-FACTS-
Daihatsu, Suzuki and Honda are the top 3 Kei-car manufacturer. Honda"N BOX" released December 2011 is now the best selling Kei in Japan(Apr-June 2012). In addition, Mira(Daihatsu), Wagon R(Suzuki), TANTO(Daihatsu), MOVE(Daihatsu), ALTO(Suzuki), MOCO(Nissan), PALETTE(Suzuki), ROOX(Nissan), PIXIS(Toyota) are the ten best seller in June 2012.


軽自動車の保有台数、２年連続で２世帯に１台超　―YOMIURI ONLINE
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atmoney/news/20120817-OYT1T01129.htm

71,900 cars wrecked by 3.11 earthquake and tsunami were removed

Cars swept away by tsunami

The Ministry of the Environment announced that 71,900 automobiles wrecked by Great East Japan Earthquake or 3.11 last year in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima were removed to temporal depositories.
17,200 wrecks in Iwate, 52,800 in Miyagi and 1900 in Fukushima were removed until July 11th 2011 and 42,500 were already disposed.


東日本大震災の被災自動車７万台、撤去ほぼ終了　―YOMIURI ONLINE
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20120810-OYT1T01122.htm