The Japanese vehicle market is continuing to perk up, helped by a growing economy.
New vehicle sales in Japan were up by 4.9% to 401,650 units from year-earlier sales of 382,875 units, according to registration data released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
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This follows a strong fourth-quarter for the country's economy, which expanded by 1.7% year-on-year – driven by strong private investment and export growth. Compared with the previous quarter, however, growth slowed to 0.2%.
The vehicle market in January was driven higher by particularly strong demand for trucks, sales of which increased by 8.3% to 57,283 units. Sales of passenger vehicles increased by 4.4% to 343,423 units, driven by a 19.6% rise in sales of compact models to 109,333 units, while sales of medium and large buses fell by 3% to 944 units.
Last month, Toyota reported a 5.3% rise in sales to 114,222 units; followed in second placed by Honda with a 16.2% sales rise to 59,516 units; Nissan 55,839 units (+10.6%); Suzuki 50,650 units (+5.9%); Daihatsu 48,150 units (-0.1%); and Mazda 16,934 units (-19.2%).
