Sales of foreign cars in Japan jumped...

Sales of foreign cars in Japan jumped 41.1% from the previous year to a record 104,340 units in fiscal 1987, the Japan Automobile Importers’ Assn. said. The previous record for imported car sales was 73,924 units sold in fiscal 1986, association spokesman Ken Kano said. The increase in foreign auto sales for fiscal year 1987, which ended March 31, was prompted by simplified import procedures, Kano said. The new procedures were part of a Japanese government measure to stimulate all imports in a bid to cut the nation’s huge trade surplus.