JAPAN

Car Imports Expected to Rise: Japanese vehicle imports are expected to rise 15% to 450,000 units in 1996, the Japan Automobile Importers Assn. said. The industry group expects imports of passenger cars to rise 15% to 420,000 units from about 365,000 units in the current year, and imports of buses and trucks to increase 20% to 30,000 units from an estimated 25,000 units in 1995. The industry group also said it expects total vehicle imports in the current year to have risen to about 390,000 units, up 29% from 301,391 units in 1994. The industry group cited the recovery of the dollar versus the yen since last summer as a factor that will support imports, as it allowed Japanese auto makers to lower prices on vehicles sold overseas.