Used (pre-owned) vehicles

Automakers, automobile dealers, enterprises holding auto auctions and bidding, used car dealers, used car buy out companies, etc.

This market report is an essential resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s used car market and its evolving ecosystem.

The sector is currently navigating a period of persistent supply-demand imbalance. Inventory levels have been constrained by sluggish new car sales and extended vehicle lifecycles, which have slowed the influx of trade-ins and liquidations. Despite this restricted supply, both domestic and international demand remains robust. This environment has kept used car valuations at historic highs, intensifying competition for prime inventory—specifically late-model, low-mileage vehicles.

In the retail space, OEMs and franchised dealers are aggressively expanding their pre-owned divisions to offset projected declines in new car sales and bolster customer retention. Simultaneously, major independent specialists are scaling operations through "mega-store" formats and diversified ancillary services. Conversely, smaller players reliant on Auto Auctions (AA) for inventory are facing significant margin compression due to soaring procurement costs, leading to weakened financial positions for some. In this hyper-competitive landscape, long-term viability now depends on direct-to-consumer sourcing and the expansion of high-margin after-sales services.

Q: Who is this market report recommended for?
A: This report is recommended for readers who want to understand the latest trends in Japan’s used car market and its major players. It is particularly useful for executives and planners in used car–related businesses who are looking for reliable data to support medium- to long-term management strategies, as well as for those who need concrete figures—such as vehicle volumes and distribution flows—for business and project planning.

Q: What kind of data is included in the used car distribution flow charts?
A: The report includes estimated used car retail volumes, along with consolidated charts showing retail and wholesale volumes from new car dealers and used car dealers. These visualizations provide a practical overview of how used vehicles circulate within the domestic market.

Q: What research methods were used in compiling the report?
A: Yano takes multi-faceted research approach, including: direct interviews with used car retailers, automobile manufacturers, auto auction (AA) operators, exporters, and platform companies; telephone surveys of used car specialty dealers; and consumer surveys of new and used car buyers. The findings are comprehensively analyzed and presented in the report.

• Chapter 1 explains the market environment underpinning used car distribution, including trends in new car sales, used car registrations, vehicle ownership, and related market changes.
• Chapter 2 analyzes the current state of the used car export market, covering export volume trends and characteristics per destination country.
• Chapter 3 examines the latest used car business strategies of automobile manufacturers and dealers that are strengthening their presence in this field.
• Chapter 4 outlines trends among used car retailers, from major chains gaining market share to small and mid-sized operators.
• Chapter 5 discusses recent initiatives and challenges faced by auto auction and bidding market operators, as well as the future outlook for used car prices.
• Chapter 6 provides easy-to-understand profiles of more than 30 leading used car–related companies based on direct interviews.　

Companies featured include:

• Automakers (SUBARU, Toyota, Honda)
• Exporters  (APPLE INTERNATIONAL, Trust Co.,Ltd)
• Used car dealers (WECARS, Autobacs Seven)
• Others （Webcrew, Recruit, Arai Auctions, Aucnet, USS)  
  
  ... and more