Chinese EV’s Japan debut

BYD has unveiled its Sealion 07 EV at this month’s Tokyo Auto Salon, marking the model’s official debut in Japan. 

The fully electric model, pictured, is set to reach Japan later this year, becoming the marque’s fourth offering in the region after the Yuan Plus, which is also known as the Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal.

In 2024, BYD sold 2,223 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Japan for 54 per cent year-on-year growth. It outpaced Toyota’s domestic NEV sales, underscoring BYD’s rising prominence.

There were 59,736 EVs sold in Japan last year – a 33 per cent decline compared to 2023 and the first drop in EV sales there in four years. 

Toyota’s EV sales fell by 30 per cent 2,038, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers’ Association. Notably, all BYDs sold in Japan are fully electric.

Despite a growing global push towards electric cars, Japan’s EV market still shows resistance to this. In 2024, EVs accounted for less than two per cent of its automotive sales, which is low compared to other developed nations.

Toyota’s bZ4X crossover, its flagship EV, managed a 10 per cent increase in sales to 1,012 last year. 

Nissan continues to dominate Japan’s EV market holding a 50 per cent share, but its best-sellers have faced sharp declines. 

Leaf registrations dropped by 44 per cent to 30,749 in 2024, their lowest since 2021. The Sakura, an electric kei-car, experienced a steep decline with sales down by 38 per cent to 22,926.

But back to BYD. The Chinese company initially entered the Japanese market in July 2022 and the introduction of its Sealion 07 EV there reinforces its commitment to expanding in that country.