Imported Auto Sales Decline in Japan

Sales of Imported Automobiles in Japan Slip 8.3 on September From the Same Month a Year Ago

TOKYO October 6, 2003; The AP reported that sales of imported automobiles in Japan slipped 8.3 percent in September from the same month a year ago as customers continued to tighten their purse strings, despite some signs of an economic upturn, an industry group said Monday.

A total of 27,351 imported vehicles were sold last month -- 27,046 passenger cars, 301 trucks and four buses, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said. In September 2002, importers sold 29,829 vehicles.

September marked the sixth straight month that sales of imported vehicles fell, including a 13.3 percent drop in August, July's 1.9 percent slip and June's 6.7 percent fall.

In the latest month reported, foreign automobile imports fell 8.2 percent to 27,678 units, while sales of similar Japanese models, produced in plants outside Japan, declined 9.4 percent to 1,948 from a year ago.

Signs Japan's economy is pulling out of a more than a decade long slump have driven up the yen lately.

While a stronger yen makes imports cheaper, association officials said customers have avoided buying big-ticket items, such as foreign brand cars, with some waiting for the release of new models in coming months.

Germany automakers Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and BMW held the top three spots among foreign companies in the Japanese market.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz was the top foreign automaker, accounting for about 21.5 percent of imports with 5,877 vehicles, but down 16.4 percent from September last year.

Volkswagen AG came in second with 18.08 percent of the market, up 0.8 percent after selling 4,946 vehicles. BMW sold 3,814 vehicles for 13.94 percent of the market.

Among U.S. brands, Chrysler was the top-seller at 621 vehicles, down 6.1 percent. It has 2.27 percent of the Japanese market.

Japan Automobile Importers Association: http://www.jaia-jp.org