Japan January minivehicle sales – 5.6 percent year by year

Japanese sales of minivehicles in
January fell 5.6 percent from a year earlier to 127,426 units,
the Japan Mini Vehicle Association said on Monday.
Sales of minivehicles, which have maximum engine
displacements of 660cc, accounted for 37 percent of the domestic
auto market in 2008.

                        JANUARY
 TOTAL                    127,426 (- 5.6)
 Cars                     102,106 (- 3.9)
 Commercial vehicles       25,320 (-12.0)

 A breakdown of the sales data by company was as follows.
 Suzuki Motor      42,409 (- 2.5)
 Daihatsu Motor    44,669 (- 2.4)
 Honda Motor       12,079 (- 5.0)
 M'bishi Motors     6,675 (-23.2)
 Fuji Heavy         6,363 (-28.1)
 *Nissan Motor     10,983 (+ 2.7)
 *Mazda Motor       4,244 (-11.1)

*Mazda sells Suzuki-made minivehicles under its own nameplate.
Nissan sells minicars made by Suzuki and and Mitsubishi Motors.
Minivehicles have maximum engine displacements of 660cc and
receive preferential tax treatment.

Source : reuters