Japanese Car Brands

The auto industry in Japan is one of the most prominent and largest in the world, which has helped make Japanese car brands have become incredibly popular all around the world. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are the three largest Japanese car manufacturers with a significant global presence and are known for producing reliable, efficient, and durable cars.

Japanese car brands include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Isuzu, Daihatsu, and Mitsuoka.

In addition to mainstream brands, Japan is also known for its luxury car brands. Lexus, which is owned by Toyota, is one of the most popular luxury brands in the world and offers a range of high-end vehicles that combine luxury and performance. Acura and Infiniti are also well-regarded luxury brands owned by Honda and Nissan respectively.

What Does JDM Mean?

When we talk about the Japanese market, JDM is a term that must be understood.

JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, which refers to the Japanese automotive market that is restricted to vehicles sold only within Japan. JDM cars are known for their unique designs, high-performance engines, and advanced technology, which are often exclusive to the Japanese market.

Today, the JDM culture has become a global phenomenon that continues to attract a dedicated following of enthusiasts who appreciate the unique appeal of Japanese domestic market cars.

In addition, Japanese automakers have a long history of producing sports cars that some become iconic in the automotive world, including the Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, and Honda NSX. In a survey of sports car drivers, Nissan GT-R has been voted the best Japanese sports car of all time; while Mazda MX-5 won the title of the world's best-selling sports car.

Let's take a look, Which car brands are on the list.

Mass Market Brands

In the mass market, Toyota is undoubtedly the most popular car brand in the United States, followed by Honda, Subaru, and Nissan.

Toyota's success can be attributed to its focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, and its popularity among car buyers around the world is a testament to the company's commitment to excellence.

Luxury Car Brands

The Lexus is marketed in more than 70 countries and territories worldwide and has become Japan's largest-selling make of luxury car brand. According to the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Survey: 2020 and 2021 Brand Ranking, Lexus was the most reliable Japanese car brand.

North America and China are Lexus' top two markets, with North America being the brand's largest market. Lexus has always had a strong focus on the North American market, with a dedicated product development team that focuses on creating products that meet the needs and preferences of North American consumers.

Truck Brands

Hino is a leading producer of medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks in Asia, and is a subsidiary of the Toyota Group. The company has a strong reputation for producing high-quality and reliable trucks that are used by businesses and organizations around the world.

In recent years, Hino has also been investing heavily in developing electric and hybrid trucks, as part of its commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. The company has already introduced a number of electric and hybrid trucks in markets like Japan and Europe, and is expected to continue expanding its offerings in this area.

Other Brands

Scion, a Toyota brand aimed at younger consumers, debuted in 2003. Scion differentiated itself from other brands by focusing on sports compacts and featuring distinctive styling.

The Scion brand was successful in the North American market for the first few years(sales peaked in 2006 with 173,034 units sold). Still, sales dropped after the financial crisis and became increasingly unsustainable. So in August 2016, Toyota announced that it would discontinue Scion at the start of the 2017 model year; these cars will either be rebranded as Toyotas or discontinued.