Japan in June 2011: Fall In Summer

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

New car sales in Japan dropped in June, but the drop was not as steep as it was in May.

Domestic sales of new cars and trucks, excluding minivehicles, fell 23.3percent on the year to 225,024 vehicles the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said today.

While still a steep decline, it was an improvement from the 37.8percent free fall recorded in May, when sales were seriously hurt by the aftereffects of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Regular Vehicles June 2011MakerJune ’11June ’10ChangeDaihatsu248495-49.9%Hino1,7122,599-34.1%Honda30,04044,377-32.3%Isuzu2,7514,216-34.7%Lexus3,7922,15176.3%Mazda10,34115,418-32.9%Mitsubishi5,2645,907-10.9%Mitsubishi Fuso17972,245-20.0%Nissan45,11343,3134.2%Subaru6,3945,9397.7%Suzuki6,7884,89638.6%Toyota87,671140,207-37.5%UD Trucks582968-39.9%Other22,53120,7638.5%Total225,024293,494-23.3%

The separately accounted for sales of minivehicles retreated 18.3percent on the year to 126,804 vehicles in June, the Japan Mini Vehicles Association said Friday. This is also better than the 25.4 percent drop in May.

Minivehicles June 2011MakerJune ’11June ’10ChangeSuzuki41,51549,017-15.3%Daihatsu47,39354,929-13.7%Mitsubishi8,8569,771-9.4%Subaru6,5298,684-24.8%Honda 8,74715,920-45.1%Mazda3,1994,434-27.9%Nissan10,56212,515-15.6%Other39-66.7%Total126,804155,279-18.3%

With both vehicle groups consolidated, we see a drop of 21.6 percent.

All vehicles June 2011MakerJune ’11June ’10ChangeDaihatsu47,64155,424-14.0%Hino1,7122,599-34.1%Honda38,78760,297-35.7%Isuzu2,7514,216-34.7%Lexus3,7922,15176.3%Mazda13,54019,852-31.8%Mitsubishi14,12015,678-9.9%Mitsubishi Fuso1,7972,245-20.0%Nissan55,67555,828-0.3%Subaru12,92314,623-11.6%Suzuki48,30353,913-10.4%Toyota87,671140,207-37.5%UD Trucks582968-39.9%Other22,53420,7728.5%Total351,828448,773-21.6%

Sales of imported vehicles profited from the shortage of cars. Imports rose 44 percent year on year to 30,686 in June.

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.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
Next