New vehicle sales in Taiwan fell by 1.8% to 30,799 units in September from 31,375 units a year earlier, according to local reports citing data compiled by Taiwan's Directorate of Highways.
The market last month failed to rebound from last month's "ghost month" – the seventh month after the Lunar New Year when superstitious consumers refrain from purchasing large-ticket items. This year it fell mostly in September instead of mostly in August last year.
Sales in the first nine months of 2018 were 1.4% lower at 322,084 units, compared with 326,504 units a year earlier.
Toyota, Lexus and Hino distributor Hotai Motor reported a sales declined by less than 1% to 7,201 units in September, lifted by the launch of the new Auris passenger car during the month, but overall volumes were 5.3% lower at 89,604 units in the first nine months of the year.
Mitsubishi distributor China Motor Corporation saw its sales rise by 12.3% last month to 3,645 units while Taiwan Honda's sales were 4.4% lower at 2,814 units; Yulon Nissan 2,576 units (+9.9%); Mercedes-Benz 2,286 units (-10.6%); and Volkswagen 1,572 units (+47.1%).