Sales of imported vehicles in Japan slipped 1% in January from the same month a year ago as customers awaited the release of new models this spring, an industry group told Associated Press (AP).
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Importers sold 15,334 vehicles – 15,093 passenger cars and 241 trucks – last month, compared with 15,486 units in January of 2003, the Japan Automobile Importers Association reportedly said.
AP said that imports from non-Japanese producers fell 4.6% to 13,724 vehicles in January, after a 13.2% increase in December.
Association spokesman Yasuhiko Yokota told the news agency that customers were waiting for the release this spring of new models from some European makers, including Volvo.
Imports of Japanese models manufactured abroad, including Toyota’s Avensis [from the UK] and Honda’s Fit Aria [Thailand], rose 27.5% to 2,247 vehicles.
German carmakers reportedly took nearly half of the import car market share in January with Volkswagen topping the ranking at 2,967 vehicles, down 5.8% from a year ago, for a market share of 19.35%.
Mercedes-Benz was in second with 2,814 vehicles, up 0.2% for a 18.35% market share, while BMW took a 10.86% share with 1,665%, up 2.3%.
Ford was the top-selling US-owned brand with 357 vehicles sold, up 2.3% for a market share of 2.33%, Chrysler had 2.31% with 354 vehicles, and General Motors’ Chevrolet [mostly Asian-built cars, note] sold 150 for a 0.98% share, Associated Press said.
