Imported Luxury Car Sales in Japan Set Record in July

Riding on brisk demand for luxury models, imported car sales in Japan hit a monthly record in July, marking the 67th consecutive year-on-year rise since January, 1984, the Japan Automobile Importers’ Assn. reported today.

The association said sales jumped a whopping 53% over a year ago to 17,339 units, bringing to 98,657 units the total number of imported cars sold in the first seven months of this year.

But despite brisk demand for imported cars in Japan, foreign cars accounted for a mere 3.1% of the total Japanese auto market.

West German cars continued to dominate the imported car market in July with 10,653 units, accounting for 61.4% of the total.

Sales of U.S.-made cars jumped 97.6% over a year ago to 2,567 units, accounting for 14.8% of the imported car market, the association said.

Sales of British cars totaled 1,426 units, up 72.6%, while those of French and Swedish vehicles gained 68.6% and 52.2% to 1,062 units and 898 units, respectively.

Demand for Italian cars fell 7.4% to 348 units, the association said.

Domestic sales, including Japanese-made and imported vehicles, hit a record 558,495 units in July, up 15% over a year ago. Passenger cars accounted for 414,840 units, up 16.3%, the association said.