Japan In July 2010: Up 15.5 Percent

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

One can always count on the Japanese to be first with a precise sales count for the preceding month. New car sales in Japan rose for the 12th straight month in July, up 15.5 percent compared to July of the previous year. Customers bought 333,403 units in July, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association told The Nikkei [sub].

What’s interesting is the continuing resurgence of the bigger stuff. Standard-size cars increased 20.3 percent, compact cars climbed 11.6 percent. Truck sales jumped 24.6 percent.

Separately, the Japan Mini Vehicle Association reported that domestic sales of new mini vehicles rose by 8.6 percdent in July from a year earlier, underscoring the trend back to “real” cars. At one time, the minivehicles, or “kei” cars owned 1/3 of Japan’s market.

Market observers expect the Japanese market to continue its growth with a big blow-out in September before government inducements go away in October. If the augurs are on their crystal ball, the Japanese market is to collapse in October.


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Signal11 Signal11 on Aug 02, 2010

    Wow. Ferrari's prancing horses next to a bunch of uma uma girls.... That's one otaku with way too much disposable income.

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