The proportion of pure-electric vehicles imported from Japan reached a new high: Tesla and BYD led the growth.

In August 2026, the sales of imported cars in Japan (excluding domestic brands) reached 17,026 units, a 6% increase year-over-year, marking the first growth in two months. Electric vehicles accounted for 22% of these sales, reaching a record high. In the electric vehicle market, Tesla and BYD stood out: Tesla’s sales in the “other” category were 2.7 times higher than the same period last year, and its flagship model, Model Y, became the best-selling imported car in the first half of the year; BYD’s sales in August reached 391 units (including light vehicles), a 64% increase year-over-year, setting a record high. The new model “Sea Otter” received approximately 1,500 orders in its first month of availability. By brand, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen saw year-over-year increases of 0.7% and 13%, respectively, while BMW saw a 23% decrease year-over-year. Looking at the price range, sales of vehicles priced between 4 million and 10 million yen increased by 13% year-over-year.