TRANSPORTATION

Sales increases: In the midst of a generally dismal period for auto sales nationally, two of Orange County’s four foreign auto import companies reported significant sales increases in November.

Mazda, with its restyled 626 sedan and new MPV mini-van and Miata roadster leading the way, reported November sales of 25,340 vehicles, up 3.6% from the 24,545 sold in November, 1988. All of the gain came from passenger car sales, with the truck line posting an 8.8% sales drop to 5,260 units from 5,770 a year earlier.

For the first 11 months, Mazda’s total U.S. sales dropped 1.8% to 316,790 units from 322,711 in the first 11 months of 1988. Mazda passenger cars, however, posted a 3% gain with sales of 242,895 units versus 235,805 last year.

Mitsubishi, which also has several new or significantly redesigned cars this year, sold 11,309 cars in the United States last month, up 152% from 4,492 a year ago. Truck sales were down 48% to 1,733 units from 3,353.

For the first 11 months, Mitsubishi dealers sold 107,364 cars, up 66% from 64,592 last year, and 27,077 trucks, down 32% from 40,214 trucks a year ago.

At Suzuki, sales are down all over, with 1,520 passenger cars and sports trucks sold in November, down 9.1% from 1,672 vehicles in November, 1988, despite the addition this year of two new models of the Suzuki Swift passenger car. For the year through November, Suzuki sold 28,843 vehicles in the United States, down 46% from 53,968 last year. Suzuki, of course, has been plagued by the bad press its Samurai sports truck got last year.

Hyundai, which had three explosive years with its best-selling Excel but failed to get a new design out in time to hang onto consumers’ attention, sold only 12,008 cars in November, off 32% from the 17,732 sold in November, 1988.

For the first 11 months, Hyundai sold 172,713 cars--32,238 Sonatas and 140,475 Excels--a drop of 29% from 242,930 cars--all Excels--sold in the same period last year.