Honda, Toyota Post Record Sales in China

Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. report record sales in China for 2013. The upturn signals a rebound from a sharp decline demand in 2012 that was triggered by a dispute between China and Japan over ownership of a chain of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.

Toyota says its sales in the country climbed 9% to 917,500 units. Honda's volume jumped 26% to 756,900 vehicles, according to the company.

Toyota and Honda sales in China fell 5% and 3%, respectively, in 2012. Monthly demand for Japanese-brand vehicles plunged by half in autumn when the territorial dispute sparked violent demonstrations against Japanese dealerships and Japanese-brand vehicles.

Political tensions over the issue flared against last year but had far less effect on demand for Japanese-branded vehicles.