Japan’s Auto Sales Surge 44%

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.

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.

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.