Auto Sales Surge 44% in Japan

Carmakers sold 505,300 cars, minivehicles, trucks and buses in Japan last month compared with 351,800 in June 2011, according to industry trade groups.

The big increase is the result of a last-minute rush by consumers to collect government incentives on new-car purchases before they expire, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Assn. Last month's sales also benefited by comparison to extremely weak sales a year ago after Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

Demand for trucks, buses and standard size cars climbed 41% to 317,200 units in June, JADA reports. Sales of minivehicles, which are powered by engines displacing 660 cc or less, jumped 48% to 188,200 units, according to the Japan Mini Vehicles Assn.

Toyota posted the largest gain in domestic sales last month: a 70% surge to 148,800 vehicles. Honda's volume grew 50% to 45,200 units. Nissan sales which were least affected by last year's disasters fell 6% to 42,600 units.

Industrywide sales in Japan for the first six months of 2012 soared 54% year over year to 2.9 million units. Minivehicle volume rose 51% to 1.1 million units. Sales of all other vehicles jumped 55% to 1.9 million units.