The Nikkei Report, citing the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, said that domestic sales of new vehicles in Japan, excluding minivehicles, reached 331,421 units in November, a year-on-year increase of 6.6% and the third month in a row of gains.
The volume was up on strong sales of subcompacts by Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
Toyota sales rose 10.9% year on year due to strong demand for its minivans and subcompacts.
Suzuki recorded a gain of 12.3% on the success of its Swift subcompact and truck and bus manufacturers Hino and Nissan Diesel saw double-digit sales gains.
After posting double-digit gains in October thanks to the new Atenza (6) and Demio (2), Mazda posted a gain of only 2.7% in November.
Vehicle sales were below year-earlier levels for Daihatsu, Mitsubishi Motors and Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries, the report said.
