April 2015

Trends in Japan’s Small and Mini-Sized Truck Market - Summary of Results of JAMA’s Fiscal 2014 Survey

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has released the results of its small and mini-sized truck market trends survey conducted in fiscal 2014 (ending March 31, 2015).

JAMA’s survey of trends in Japan’s small and mini-sized truck market is conducted once every two years to monitor shifts in the demand structure for small and mini-sized trucks by tracking periods of ownership, purchases, and patterns of use.  The fiscal 2014 survey also sought to determine the extent of:
- General safety awareness and awareness of advanced safety technology;
- Awareness of environmental issues and next-generation eco-friendly vehicles;
- The impact of the consumption tax increase from 5% to 8%; and
- Demand for trucks and vans among farming households.

Survey results clarified the following trends in the areas indicated.

  • Number of vehicles in use

The number of small and mini-sized trucks and vans in use continues to decline.

  • Demand for new trucks

The recovery in demand for small and mini-sized trucks and vans to the 2008 level is primarily attributable to a growth in replacement demand, as opposed to a growth in per-owner unit ownership.

  • Patterns of use

Although no major shifts were recorded in driving distances and use purposes, expanded activity was noted in shipments/deliveries to end consumers, with that trend being particularly conspicuous in the mini-sized truck segment.

  • Intentions with respect to future purchases

The desire to replace an in-use vehicle with the purchase of a new vehicle of the same class and model remains a strong trend.  Although fewer corporate operators than in the previous survey in fiscal 2012 affirmed their intention to reduce fleet size over the next one to two years, no increase was recorded in intentions to expand fleet size.

  • General safety awareness and awareness of advanced safety technology

Consumer safety awareness in this sector of the freight transport industry is pronounced, as is the appeal of advanced safety technology.

  • Awareness of environmental issues and next-generation eco-friendly vehicles

Consumer receptiveness to hybrid vehicles is high, although intentions to purchase a next-generation eco-friendly vehicle continue to lag.

  • Impact of the consumption tax increase from 5% to 8%

The impact on demand in the small and mini-sized truck market of the increase in Japan’s consumption (i.e., national sales) tax, effective from April 1, 2014, was reported to be insignificant.

  • Demand for trucks and vans among farming households

Demand among farming households centers on mini-sized trucks, in terms of both vehicles in use and future replacement purchases.  However, the survey revealed increased ownership of mini-sized passenger cars among owners of in-use mini-sized trucks.

More detailed information on the results of this survey is available, in Japanese only, on the JAMA Web site (http://www.jama.or.jp).

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