TOKYO (MNI) – New vehicle sales in Japan rose 28.0% from a year
earlier to 228,514 units in May, posting the 10th straight month of
year-on-year gains, backed by tax breaks for buying low emission
automobiles, data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association
showded on Tuesday.
The increase followed a 33.5% rise in April. In August 2009,
domestic new vehicle sales rose 2.3%, posting their first y/y rise in 13
months.
In May passenger car sales rose 29.9% from a year earlier to
207,272 units (vs. +36.8% y/y in the previous month).
Truck sales rose 12.3% to 20,633 units, posting the fourth
straight y/y rise after rising 9.9% in April, while sales of buses rose
16.4% to 609 units, marking the first y/y rise in two months.
Separately, the Japan Mini Vehicle Association reported that
domestic sales of new mini vehicles (with engine displacement of less
than 660 cc) rose by 12.4% in May from a year earlier (vs. +10.8% in the
previous month) to 127,634, posting the fifth consecutive month.
In January 2010, mini vehicle sales showed the first y/y rise in 15
months, up 0.7%.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4833 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
