Japan auto sales slide 9.4%
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
SALES of new cars, trucks and buses in Japan slid 9.4 per cent in June for the 14th straight month of decline as demand remained weak across all segments and new models failed to inspire a rebound for many.
Vehicle sales totalled 462,166 units last month, with 660cc minivehicles, which get preferential tax treatment, falling 6.1 per cent to 170,526 units.
Sales of all other vehicles retreated 11.2 per cent to 291,640 units, extending the monthly drop to two years, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said yesterday.
Executives at carmakers have blamed weak domestic demand on a declining population and growing disinterest in owning cars among younger people.
For the first six months of 2007, non-mini vehicle sales totalled 1,788,440 units, down 10.5 per cent from the year before and the lowest level since 1977, an official at the industry group said.
Minivehicles slipped 1.7 per cent to 1,054,080 units, putting total auto sales for the first half at 2,842,520 units, down 7.4 per cent.
Just three of the 13 brands Toyota Motor's Lexus luxury line, Mitsubishi Motors and Suzuki Motor posted a rise in non-mini vehicles in June.
Nissan Motor, ranked second in the domestic market, fell for the 21st month despite the launch of the Dualis crossover last May.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd's Subaru was the only brand with a longer losing streak, at 23 months. Despite the remodelling of the core Impreza model in early June, its sales fell 5.2 per cent.
Top-ranked Toyota dropped for the 10th straight month with a 13 per cent fall after it rolled out the Premio/Allion sedan in early June and the Voxy/Noah model late in the month.
Commercial vehicles were a major drag as sales of trucks subject to tougher emissions regulations declined. Reuters
Vehicle sales totalled 462,166 units last month, with 660cc minivehicles, which get preferential tax treatment, falling 6.1 per cent to 170,526 units.
Sales of all other vehicles retreated 11.2 per cent to 291,640 units, extending the monthly drop to two years, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said yesterday.
Executives at carmakers have blamed weak domestic demand on a declining population and growing disinterest in owning cars among younger people.
For the first six months of 2007, non-mini vehicle sales totalled 1,788,440 units, down 10.5 per cent from the year before and the lowest level since 1977, an official at the industry group said.
Minivehicles slipped 1.7 per cent to 1,054,080 units, putting total auto sales for the first half at 2,842,520 units, down 7.4 per cent.
Just three of the 13 brands Toyota Motor's Lexus luxury line, Mitsubishi Motors and Suzuki Motor posted a rise in non-mini vehicles in June.
Nissan Motor, ranked second in the domestic market, fell for the 21st month despite the launch of the Dualis crossover last May.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd's Subaru was the only brand with a longer losing streak, at 23 months. Despite the remodelling of the core Impreza model in early June, its sales fell 5.2 per cent.
Top-ranked Toyota dropped for the 10th straight month with a 13 per cent fall after it rolled out the Premio/Allion sedan in early June and the Voxy/Noah model late in the month.
Commercial vehicles were a major drag as sales of trucks subject to tougher emissions regulations declined. Reuters
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