FY2010 new vehicles sales fail to reach last year’s level, with non-mini vehicle sales for March dropping 37 percent

According to announcements by Japan Automobile Dealers Association and Japan Mini Vehicles Association on April 1, new vehicle sales for March dropped 35.1 percent compared with the same month last year to 437,599 vehicles. Impacted by the March 11 earthquake, sales of non-mini vehicles fell 37.0 percent year-on-year to 279,389 vehicles, while those of mini vehicles decreased 31.6 percent to 158,210 vehicles. Total vehicle sales for the year ended in March 2011 were 4,601,136, declining 5.7 percent from the last fiscal year and recording a year-on-year loss for the first time in two years. Japan Automobile Dealers Association says non-mini vehicle sales for March 2011 hit the third lowest in record for the month, as production was suspended following the massive earthquake. The 37 percent year-on-year decrease was the worst drop ever since 1968. All companies except Suzuki and Hino, which achieved a year-on-year increase of 12.8 percent and 7.6 percent respectively, announced a year-on-year decrease. Toyota suffered a 45.9 percent loss, Nissan 37.7 percent, and Honda 28.3 percent from the same month last year. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on April 2, 2011)