The Turning Point of 'Breaking Away from AA Dependency': Soaring AA Prices, Supply Shortages, and Changing Export Environments / Used Car Market Statistical Report (February 2026)

Fabrica Communications Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fabrica Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi; President & CEO: Masato Taniguchi), which operates the used car information site 'Kurumaerabi.com' (https://www.kurumaerabi.com/), is pleased to present the 'Used Car Market Statistical Report,' summarizing market movements based on new and used car registration data for February 2026 and the site's sales trends.

[Excerpt from the Used Car Market Statistical Report (February 2026)] For full details of this survey, please visit: https://www.kurumaerabi.co.jp/useful-details/1356/

Market Trends (February 2026) New and Used Car Registration Trends Compared to January, new car registrations increased slightly to 107%, and used car registrations increased to 113%. New car registrations typically increase in February compared to January, and this year followed that trend. Used car registrations also followed the usual seasonal pattern.

Compared to February of last year, new car registrations were at 88.6% and used car registrations at 93.9%, showing a decline in both. New car registrations have been below the previous year's level for two consecutive months in 2026. The slow recovery of the new car market means fewer high-quality trade-ins are entering the market. This stagnation in trade-ins is prolonging the severe supply shortage.

Record High AA Prices, Year-End Demand, and Supply Shortages In 2026, the Japanese used car market is facing the conflicting situation of soaring AA prices and a severe supply shortage. The average USS transaction price in February 2026 reached 1.38 million yen (a 9.5% increase year-on-year), marking a record high for the second consecutive month since statistics began.

Export Uncertainty, Rising Costs, and Polarization Rapid changes are occurring in the market environment. Tensions in the Middle East have destabilized transport routes to the UAE, Japan's largest used car export hub. There are concerns about temporary supply-demand imbalances and inventory stagnation for key export models like the Land Cruiser. Domestically, rising labor and logistics costs are squeezing retail margins. These factors are expected to accelerate the polarization between large dealers with capital and smaller dealers dependent on AA procurement.