Imported auto sales seen topping 300,000 units in 2017

December 6, 2017

Tokyo- Sales of imported foreign-brand vehicles in Japan are highly likely to top 300,000 units for the first time in 20 years in 2017, an official of a relevant industry group said Wednesday.

Cumulative sales in January-November grew 3.6 percent from a year before to 274,595 units, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said the same day.

The growth was led by robust sales of clean diesel vehicles, which accounted for about 20 pct of the total figure for the first 11 months of the year. In addition, automakers actively launched new vehicle models.

In November alone, sales increased 8 percent from a year earlier to 25,770 units, up for the fourth straight month.

Imported foreign-brand vehicles accounted for 10 percent of overall sales of new vehicles other than mini-vehicles in Japan in November, hitting the highest level for the month. Jiji Press