Japanese cars have dominated the automobile world for a long time. Japan is a global superpower in the automobile industry, with its high-quality and trustworthy Japanese car brands.
Japan is currently the third largest car-producing country. Japan is second in terms of car production based on its value. Japanese cars are extremely popular as they offer strong performance, and are competitively priced.
Japan is a preferred market for cars and Japanese brands produce more affordable and technically advanced vehicles.
Their reputation for making strong and high-quality cars has earned them immense popularity. Japanese car brands are second in the world and have incredible value. Therefore if you are fond of the car market then this article is for you.
In this article, we have listed the top 20 most popular Japanese car brands in the world.
Contents
Most Popular Japanese Car Brands
1. Toyota
- Established in 1937
- Headquarters: Toyota, Japan
Toyota is undoubtedly one of the most renowned Japanese Car Brands in the world. Toyota cars are both economical and efficient. They can withstand everyday use without losing any of their integrity.
The Toyota Prius is the ideal vehicle for taxis and other enterprises in Asia. Toyota manufactures both gasoline-powered cars and electric ones. The company has also sold more than one million electric vehicles so far. Toyota is the world’s leader in hybrid electric vehicles sales.
In 2012 Toyota produced more than 10 million vehicles and is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to achieve this.
2. Honda
- Established in 1946
- Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Honda, another most popular Japanese car brand that manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment. Honda is the second-largest automobile manufacturer in Japan. Honda focuses on car building with style and innovation.
Honda has many assembly plants in China, the United States, Turkey, Taiwan, Perú Argentina, Pakistan, Canada, England, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, México, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
American Honda Motor Company is located in Torrance, California. Besides cars and motorcycles Honda also manufactures power generators, marine engines, and watercrafts.
3. Nissan
- Established in 1933
- Headquarters: Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Nissan is also one of the Japanese car brands that produced some of the most iconic car models to the market. Nissan focuses on innovation and user experience.
Nissan is known to offer luxury, comfort, and style in their cars. It is also one of the best car brands in China, Russia and Mexico. Sentra and Altima were the top selling car models of Nissan.
Nissan sells more than 60 models under Nissan, Infiniti, Nismo and Datsun.
4. Suzuki
- Established in 1909
- Headquarters: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Suzuki Motor Corporation, today known as Suzuki, was founded over 100 years ago. It started out as loom work, but later became an automobile manufacturer.
In 1955, they produced the first Suzuki car, Suzulight. It was created in response to the Japanese post-war desire for reliable and affordable transportation.
The Suzuki brand is known for its lightweight and reliable four-wheel drive vehicles. This has made them one of the best car manufacturers in the world. In Japan, Suzuki is the market leader in the Kei-car segment.
Suzuki has plants in 23 countries and 133 distributors in 192 countries.
5. Mitsubishi
- Established in 1970
- Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Mitsubishi is one of the most recognizable Japanese car brands established in 1870. Montero is its most famous and powerful model.
Many people don’t know the full name of this company, i.e. Mitsubishi Shokai means 3 Diamonds. Mitsubishi is also a major manufacturer of multi-purpose vehicles like the L300.
It is one of the best competitors to Suzuki as it also makes heavy construction equipment. Mitsubishi also manufactures commercial-grade trucks and buses.
6. Mazda
- Established in 1915
- Headquarters: 3-1 Chome, Fuchu, Aki, Hiroshima, Japan
Mazda is one of the oldest automobile manufacturing companies in Japan. They manage to produce most of their vehicles in their Japanese plant. Mazda partnered with Ford Motors between 1974 and 2015.
The Mazda-Ford partnership eventually led to the creation of additional distinct divisions such as the Autozam and the Efini, the Eunos, and the Xedos.
Mazda is also well-respected in Japan for its sports car category: The MX-5 won the title of “world’s most-sold sports car”, which TopGear fully acknowledges.
7. LEXUS
- Established in 1989
- Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan
Lexus is the Toyota competitor to Nissan’s Infiniti. Its latest models have received worldwide acclaim. Lexus has managed to overthrow Honda’s Acura in America since 1989 with the L400.
Lexus has been a top luxury car manufacturer in the world, with a design that bears almost no resemblances to its parent company.
Lexus produces most of its vehicles in Japan. Lexus has its Operational centers in Brussels, Belgium, and the United States.
8. Acura
- Established in 1986
- Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Acura was the first luxury car brand established by Honda in 1986. The Acura Legend inspired many other Japanese automakers like Toyota and Nissan to launch their own luxury brands, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively.
In 1980’s Acura was among the best-selling luxury car brands in the US, outselling brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
9. Isuzu
- Established in 1916
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Isuzu is also a Japanese automobile manufacturer. It has been selling parts and cars for over 100 years. Isuzu’s history dates back to 1916 when a gas company joined a shipbuilding and engineering firm to create an automobile manufacturing plant.
Although the company is primarily focused on manufacturing commercial vehicles, it also produces a few of the most popular SUVs and sports cars.
10. Datsun
- Established in 1931
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Datsun is a long-standing partner of Nissan. Most of Nissan’s US exports were originally branded under Datsun.
Datsun was abandoned in 1986 following the company’s renaming campaign. However, it was relaunched in 2013 to produce affordable cars in emerging markets like India and Russia.
11. Daihatsu
- Established in 1907
- Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Daihatsu Motor Co. was established in 1899. Daihatsu saw its sales rise by approximately 8% in 2017, making them one of the most popular Japanese auto companies.
The Hijet, Tanto and Mira are all popular models from Daihatsu. These vehicles were sold in high numbers. It is Japan’s oldest producer of internal combustion engines. It is best known for its key models and off-road vehicles.
12. SUBARU
- Established in 1953
- Headquarters: Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan
Subaru is the automobile manufacturing unit of Fuji Heavy Industries. It is best known for its boxer engine layout, and symmetrical all-wheel drive technology.
Subaru is also known for producing rally cars. They even offer turbocharged versions of their popular passenger cars like the Legacy 2.5 GT or the Impreza.
13. Infiniti
- Brand established in 1989
- Headquarters: Hopewell Centre Wan Chai (Hong Kong).
Infiniti was launched in 1989 by Nissan, which followed Honda into the US luxury segment. Infiniti cars are mostly made in Japan.
Infiniti relocated its headquarters to Hong Kong in 2012 as Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan president, revealed his ambitions for the Chinese luxury market. This market is larger than the one in North America.
14. Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf is a compact hatchback electric car that is only sold in 35 countries right now, but it attracted international attention when it was launched in 2010.
It is one of the most popular all-electric vehicles from Nissan (110 000 units sold up to 2014), which is a remarkable achievement.
15. Scion
- Established in 2002
- Headquarters: Torrance, California, US
Scion is a popular auto manufacturer that works under Toyota to produce vehicles for North America. Scion’s primary focus is on Generation Y consumers, and it was quite popular in its early years.
The company is currently struggling to maintain its sales, so it is not in a good place. However, the company’s new vehicle is due to be released this year.
16. Hino
- Established in 1942
- Headquarters: Hino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Hino is a Japanese commercial vehicle and diesel engine manufacturer and is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. The company was established in 1942. It is one among the 16 major companies of the Toyota Group.
Hino brand now operates in Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippine, Russia, Thailand, and the United States.
17. Mitsuoka Motors
- Established in 1968
- Headquarters: Toyama City, Japan
Mitsuoka Motors, a small Japanese automobile manufacturer, is located in Toyama City. It is known for making cars that borrow design elements from British vehicles of the 1950s and 1960s.
Mitsuoka Motors manufactures both sedans and commercial vehicles like buses, coaches, and sports cars. Mitsuoka Motors is also a primary distributor for the most loved Japanese roadster, the retro-classic TD2000.
18. Ohta Jidosha
- Established in 1922 – 1957
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Ohta Jidosha was the largest and most well-known Japanese car manufacturer in the 1930s. The company was originally founded in 1922.
It was known officially as Kosoku Kilian Kogyo Co., until 1935 when it produced the OHTA Model. The company sold and manufactured cars until 1957 when it was forced to stop production for unknown reasons.
19. Prince Motor Company
- Established in 1947-66
- Headquarters: Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
A merger of two aircraft companies, Tachikawa Aircraft Company and Nakajima Aircraft Company, led to the formation of Prince Motor Company. The company produced many attractive coupes, sedans, and trucks after combining these two companies.
In 1966, the company merged into Nissan. The company’s name no longer holds any value, but Nissan does!
20. Gorham
- BEstablished in 1915-1922
- Headquarters: Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Gorham Motors is also the car manufacturer brand that was merged with Nissan. Only one vehicle had been introduced by the company during its existence.
The company failed to produce any other vehicles and was incapable of coping with the demands of mass production.
Conclusion:
The above mentioned are the best and most popular Japanese car brands in the world. Let us know your favourite Japanese car brand in the comment section.
