Suzuki Vaults Past Nissan to be Japan's Third-Largest Automaker UPDATED

Suzuki has been an automaker on the rise in recent years, while Nissan has been moving in the opposite direction. Nissan’s issues in recent years have been well documented as it works not just to grow sales, but simply to stay out of bankruptcy.

UPDATED -- the original headline said "world's" instead of "Japan's." This has been fixed. We regret the error.

Suzuki is better known in the U.S. for making motorcycles, but globally it produces a massive number of small vehicles sold across Asia and other markets. In all, the company sold about 3.3 million vehicles in 2025, a 1.4-percent increase. It marks the fifth straight year the company’s global sales have risen.

Although it’s done well in its home market of Japan, the bulk of Suzuki’s car sales, about 2.6 million, are to overseas markets. Much of it went to India, where it sold over 1.8 million vehicles in 2025. However, what makes the move past Nissan is the fact that Suzuki doesn’t sell vehicles in the U.S. or China — the top two markets in the world for automakers.

Meanwhile, Nissan’s struggles continue at home and abroad. The company’s sales in Japan slumped in 2025, dropping 15.2 percent compared to 2024. Outside of Japan, sales fell 2.6 percent, resulting in a total decline globally of 4.4 percent.

However, there is a bright spot for Nissan: North America. Sales in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. were up 2.2 percent to 1.3 million vehicles. However, China, Europe, and its other markets were all down between 6 percent and 7 percent for 2025.

“Trucks and SUVs were the clear growth engine for Nissan in the fourth quarter and throughout 2025," said Mike Soutter, senior vice president, U.S. Marketing and Sales, Nissan Americas in a release. "From the all-new Murano and Armada to the continued strength of Pathfinder, Frontier and Kicks, the Nissan lineup delivered steady year-over-year retail share growth. 

“In the new year, we expect to sustain momentum with the arrival of the refreshed Pathfinder and the first-ever Rogue PHEV. These new models will elevate our appeal in two of the most competitive segments in the market, and we're confident they will help fuel a strong year for the brand."

[Image: Suzuki, Nissan]

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