Chinese cars in Japan: which brands sell there and since when
Facts checked
Japan charges no tariff on imported passenger cars, and it has not for decades, but imports of any kind take only a small slice of the market and almost all of that slice belongs to European brands. Only one Chinese passenger-car brand has committed to Japan at scale. BYD Auto Japan opened passenger-car sales on 31 January 2023 with the Atto 3, priced at 4.4 million yen, and followed with the Dolphin and Seal; BYD had already sold electric buses in Japan for years before that.
Growth has been steady rather than explosive. BYD aimed for more than 100 dealers by the end of 2025 and reported reaching about 80. Its Japanese sales rose 62 per cent in 2025 to 3,870 vehicles, helped by the Sea Lion 7 launched in April 2025, and it entered Japan's top ten imported-car list. The Japan Automobile Importers Association reported that imports excluding Japanese manufacturers rose 7 per cent in 2025 to 243,129 units, the first increase in seven years, with Chinese electric vehicles a visible part of that.
BYD's most deliberate move is a car designed for Japan alone. The Racco, a kei-class electric minicar built to Japan's 660 cc-class dimensions and tax category, was shown at the Japan Mobility Show on 29 October 2025 and went on sale in July 2026, taking more than 1,000 orders in its first two weeks. It is the first time a foreign manufacturer has built a car specifically for the kei segment, which accounts for a large share of Japanese sales and has been the exclusive preserve of domestic makers.
At a glance
| Country code | JP |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Market status | Emerging |
| Brands recorded | 4 |
| Chinese-owned plants | 0 |
| Models on this site | 5 |
Brands sold in Japan
| Brand | Status | Since | Route to market | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 比亚迪BYD | Sold | 31 January 2023 | The company itself | BYD Auto Japan opened passenger-car sales on 31 January 2023 with the Atto 3 at 4.4 million yen, followed by the Dolphin, Seal and, from April 2025, the Sea Lion 7. Japanese sales reached 3,870 vehicles in 2025, up 62 per cent. |
| 比亚迪商用车BYD Commercial Vehicles | Sold | 2015 | The company itself | BYD sold electric buses in Japan before its passenger-car entry. Start year to be re-checked against a primary source. |
| 沃尔沃Volvo Cars | Sold | not published | The company itself | Volvo has sold in Japan for decades and has been majority-owned by Geely Holding since 2010. |
| 极星Polestar | Sold | 2022 | The company itself | Polestar entered Japan as a separate brand; entry year to be re-checked against a primary source. |
The rules
Stated from the document that issued them, with the date each was read. Nothing here is an interpretation.
| Rule | What it says | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| No import tariff on passenger cars | Japan applies a zero tariff to imported passenger cars regardless of origin, so Chinese-built vehicles pay no customs duty. Vehicles must still meet Japanese type approval and, for the kei class, the dimension and engine-capacity limits that define the category. | Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA) | |
| Kei-class rules opened to a foreign maker | BYD developed the Racco specifically to Japan's kei-vehicle dimensions and tax class and put it on sale in July 2026, the first such car from a foreign manufacturer. It received more than 1,000 orders in its first two weeks. | CnEVPost |
Western badges built in China and sold in Japan
| Model | Badge | Plant | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3 | Tesla | Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai | 2019 onwards | Japanese-market Teslas are supplied from Shanghai. Not confirmed against a primary source here. |
smart #1 · Tesla Model 3 · Tesla Model Y
Models recorded in Japan
| Model | Body | Status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 3 | SUV | Sold | 508 km WLTP |
| BYD Dolphin | Hatchback | Sold | 427 km WLTP |
| BYD Seal | Saloon | Sold | 570 km WLTP |
| BYD Sealion 6 | SUV | Sold | 80 km WLTP |
| BYD Sealion 7 | SUV | Sold | 482 km WLTP |
Best sellers
| Model | Brand | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD (all models) | BYD | 2025 | 3,870 vehicles in Japan, up 62 per cent; the Sea Lion 7, launched in April 2025, was the main driver. BYD entered Japan's top-ten imported car list during 2025. |
| BYD Racco | BYD | 2026 | Kei-class electric minicar launched in July 2026; more than 1,000 orders in its first two weeks. |
Chinese cars in Japan: questions people ask
- Are Chinese cars sold in Japan?
- Yes, but only one passenger-car brand at scale. BYD began Japanese passenger-car sales on 31 January 2023 with the Atto 3 and had built to about 80 dealers and 3,870 sales a year by the end of 2025. It had sold electric buses in Japan before that.
- Does Japan tax Chinese cars?
- No. Japan charges no import tariff on passenger cars from any country. The barrier for Chinese brands is distribution and buyer preference, not duty.
- What is the BYD Racco?
- A kei-class electric minicar designed to Japan's 660 cc-class dimensions and tax category. BYD showed it at the Japan Mobility Show on 29 October 2025 and put it on sale in July 2026 - the first kei-class car from a foreign manufacturer.
- How large is Japan's imported-car market?
- The Japan Automobile Importers Association reported 243,129 imported vehicles excluding Japanese manufacturers in 2025, up 7 per cent, the first increase in seven years.
What changed
The only dated surface on this page. It records status changes, not news.
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The BYD Racco went on sale in Japan and took more than 1,000 orders in two weeks.
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BYD said it would extend its Japanese network with smaller dealerships.
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JAIA reported 243,129 imported vehicles for 2025, up 7 per cent, the first rise in seven years.
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BYD unveiled the kei-class Racco at the Japan Mobility Show.
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BYD launched the Sea Lion 7 in Japan.
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BYD began passenger-car sales in Japan with the Atto 3.
Related
Sources for Japan
- BYD Company Ltd, BYD enters the passenger vehicle market in Japan. Read .
- CnEVPost, BYD starts selling EVs in Japan, first model Atto 3. Read . Sales opened 31 January 2023 at 4.4 million yen.
- 36Kr, BYD sold 3,870 vehicles in Japan in 2025. Read . 2025 volume up 62 per cent; Sea Lion 7 launched April 2025; about 80 dealers by end-2025.
- CnEVPost, BYD takes on Toyota, Honda and Nissan on their home turf with all-electric K-car Racco. Read .
- Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA), New registrations of imported vehicles. Read .
- CnEVPost, BYD to expand sales network coverage in Japan by opening mini dealerships. Read .
- Gasgoo, Japan's imported car market sees first increase in seven years. Read . JAIA data released 8 January: 243,129 imported units in 2025, up 7 per cent.
- Electrek, BYD's kei EV already looks like a hit with over 1,000 orders in its first 2 weeks. Read .