The Japan Mini Vehicles Association announced recently that the number of subcompact
cars on Japanese roads now exceeds 20 million. The K-class of tiny vehicles now
accounts for 27.6 percent of the total cars owned in Japan and is the highest
in 28 years.

The association thinks the steep increase – five million in a decade –
is due to changes in subcompact standards in 1998 (that allowed slightly larger
dimensions and engines) and owners holding on to their cars for longer periods.

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According to the association, subcompacts accounted for 5 million cars in 1970,
10 million in 1985 and 15 million in 1990.

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