Japanese sales of new motor vehicles dropped 31.5% in March from a year earlier to 323,063 units, due to a severe auto slump caused by the economic recession, an industry body said Wednesday.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


It was the eighth consecutive monthly decline in domestic sales of cars, buses and trucks, excluding minivehicles with engine displacements of up to 660 cc, according to data compiled by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.


The figure also marked the lowest monthly level in March since 1974 when the first oil shock brought domestic sales down to 293,598 units, Kyodo News noted.


 

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact