Japan's used car market hits record 5.32 trillion yen in 2025

11 articles · Updated · Kyodo News Plus · May 6

A survey of 10,268 people found average used-car prices rose to a record 1.75 million yen, while new vehicles averaged 3.50 million yen.
Nearly 40% of cars bought in the past year were secondhand, with demand for newer pre-owned models, SUVs and hybrids helping lift prices.
The market has grown as stigma around used goods fades and inflation boosts interest in cheaper, older minivehicles, with researchers expecting further expansion.

With Japan's used car prices at record highs, is the market boom sustainable or an inflationary bubble?

As hybrids dominate Japan's roads, can electric vehicles overcome their cost and infrastructure hurdles to compete?