Imported auto sales in Japan down 18.6% to 21-year low in 2009

Saturday 09th January, 07:00 AM JST

TOKYO —

New imported vehicle sales in Japan last year fell 18.6% from the previous year to a 21-year low of 178,527 units due to a serious economic slump, an industry body said Friday. The sales figure, including vehicles that were produced abroad and imported by Japanese carmakers, was the lowest since 1988 when sales totaled 134,767 units, said the Japan Automobile Importers Association.
   
The total included 160,904 foreign-brand vehicles, down 17%, and 17,623 Japanese-brand vehicles, down 30.4%. New imported passenger car sales decreased 18.6% to 167,889 units and truck sales 18.1% to 10,612 units.
Volkswagen remained the top-selling imported vehicle brand in Japan last year, capturing 21.24% of Japan’s imported vehicle market with sales at 37,928 units, down 16.7%. BMW replaced Mercedes-Benz as the second-best seller, with a market share of 16.29%, while Mercedes-Benz was third with 16.10%.