Vehicle Sales Soar 38% in Japan

Sales of new cars, minivehicles, trucks and buses surged to 513,100 units last month from 373,100 units in July 2011, according to the country's auto trade groups.

Demand was fueled by last-minute purchases by consumers who expect a government subsidy program to expire this month, the organizations say. Volume also is rebounding from abnormally low levels last year after Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

Sales of standard-size passenger vehicles jumped 37% to 295,600 units in July, the Japan Automobile Dealers Assn. reports. Commercial-vehicle volume grew 27% to 32,200 units. Sales zoomed 60% to 165,700 vehicles at Toyota, climbed 35% to 45,600 units at Honda and rose 7% to 44,900 units at Nissan.

Sales of minivehicles, which are powered by engines displacing 660 cc or less, soared 40% year over year to 184,600 last month, says the Japan Mini Vehicles Assn.

Demand for passenger and commercial vehicles of all sizes which shot up 54% to 2.95 million units in the first half of 2012 is expected to drop 10% in the final six months of this year, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. predicts.