Sales of foreign-brand electric vehicles (EVs) in Japan saw a sharp increase in May, despite the US imposing a 25 percent tariff on automobile imports. According to the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA), the tariff had minimal impact on EV shipments to Japan.

Japan’s total domestic EV sales remained steady at 3,791 units, but the sales of imported EVs soared by more than 60 percent year-on-year, reaching approximately 2,400 units. While some industry observers speculated that European manufacturers might redirect deliveries from the US to Japan due to the tariff, JAIA stated that this was not the primary factor behind the surge. Instead, strong consumer demand drove the rise in sales.

Leading foreign EV manufacturers—including China’s BYD, Germany’s BMW, South Korea’s Hyundai, and Sweden’s Volvo—reported increased sales in Japan. Tesla did not disclose its sales figures. Foreign-brand EVs have gained popularity in the country due to their diverse range of models, capturing 63 percent of Japan’s EV market in May, up from 39 percent a year earlier.

In contrast, domestic-brand EV sales declined by about 40 percent to 1,400 units, with Nissan’s top-selling Sakura model nearly halving its sales to 858 units.