April 28, 2006
Passenger Car Market Trends
- Results of JAMA’s Fiscal 2005 Survey -
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has published the results of its passenger car market trend survey carried out in fiscal 2005. Passenger car surveys are conducted in odd-numbered years and target households nationwide, to determine ownership and user trends as well as future demand structure.
Based on 5,250 responses, survey results indicated that:
- Household passenger car ownership stood at 78.8%, roughly equal to the 79.2% recorded in the previous survey (fiscal 2003).
- Multiple vehicle ownership stood at 38.3%, up from 35.9% in 2003.
- In the multiple-vehicle ownership segment, there was an increase in ownership of two or more passenger cars.
- There was a slight increase in the number of women who are principal drivers. Principal drivers aged 50 years or older comprised 46% of all principal drivers.
- The average period of passenger car ownership was 6.8 years, an increase of 0.3 years from 2003, underlining a trend towards longer car ownership.
The survey also revealed or confirmed the following trends:
- Continued downsizing
The shift to smaller cars (as defined by engine capacity) is a continuing trend. - Changes in used car demand
Purchasers replacing new vehicles with used vehicles represented 11% of all car purchasers, down from 15% in 2003. Purchasers replacing used cars with other used cars totalled 27%, down from 28% in 2003. - An increased potential need for assisted-mobility vehicles
Among households with a family member aged 75 or older, 29% identified themselves as households “in need of nursing care” (up from 22% in 2003). In that segment, vehicle use for nursing care stood at 91%, with 92% of the vehicles used for that purpose being for “private” (as opposed to business) use. - “Boomers” and “seniors” have different vehicle preferences
Compared to senior citizens, members of Japan’s “baby boom” generation own more bonnet-type minicars, recreational vehicles, and used cars, and place greater importance on “overall interior comfort” and “backseat comfort” when making vehicle purchases.
•Reference: JAMA's Fiscal 2005 Passenger Car Market Trend Survey ~ Summary of Results
