Sales of new cars in Japan have fallen for the 14th consecutive month, a trend automaker executives blame on a declining population and decreasing interest in car ownership among younger Japanese.
Auto sales are at their lowest level since 1977 with 466,166 vehicle sales, of which 170,526 were minivehicle (660cc) sales. Minivehicles receive tax incentive promotions because of their small size relative to congested Japanese roads and they have been more immune to the sales slump traditional vehicles have had. Japanese bought 291,640 traditional vehicles in June, an 11.2 percent drop, according to today’s report from the Japan Automobile Dealers association.
Automotive News reports that just three Japanese brands – Lexus, Mitsubishi and Suzuki – posted sales increases for non-minivehicle sales in June.
Other Japanese stalwarts, such as Toyota, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (Subaru), Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co., all saw sales drops, as well.
07/02, 9:58 AM
posted by:
Deanster
Decreasing interest in car ownership? I doubt that. I’m near certain less disposable income is to blame. Newer generations would rather take the bus and own iPods and PS3s than a car.
07/02, 10:19 AM
posted by:
Yeah, who drives in Japan anyway, with all the people, it’s much more efficient to walk….
07/02, 10:21 AM
posted by:
Fletch
I would really miss driving everyday, but that’s me in the suburbs/country. Urban living with a public transportation infrastrucutre really does make owning a vehicle optional. The cost of a parking spot alone in large cities exceeds the costs of most vehicles.
07/02, 1:22 PM
posted by:
Veda
With the public transportation Japan offers, why bother owning one anyway? Just ask any English “teacher” you know who moved there for a few years. Besides walking is healthier and keeps those J chicks slim and tight.
07/02, 1:47 PM
posted by:
jbird97
theyre too busy drifting 240’s, supra’s, skyline’s, rx-7’s, etc.
07/02, 2:46 PM
posted by:
kosai03
Nah, their cars are just so darn reliable that less people need new ones right now
I bet they didn’t see that one coming 
/joke
07/02, 10:32 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Public transportation in Japan is one of the best in the world. I’ve tried it myself and other than needing a guide since I cannot read Japanese, the train systems there are utterly reliable. And on time. You don’t need a car unless you want to enjoy the country or unless you enjoy driving.
I’d still try to keep a nice car to enjoy if I lived there, but unlike many places in the U.S., you can live very easily without one in Japan.
They have such stringent inspections ever couple of years it becomes very expensive to maintain an older car and keep it registered legally. Still, some people love classics and won’t ever part with them.
07/02, 11:51 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
this means, japan is gona spew out a bunch of desirable cars directed at the youth market.. (closes eyes and hopes for 4-6 cylinder twin turbo machines like the 300zx…rx-7….supra) and my chance to finally own a new one, since I’ll be their target market by 2009. (young, career-starting)
07/03, 8:41 AM
posted by:
Get Real
How do they expect people to afford a car they consider junk after a few years ?
Stupid Japanese government.
Good model for the US EPA however, and they will do it.
07/03, 6:28 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Japan has intelligently designed mass transit, and a government that supports it
kosaio3: japan is smaller than california, so cars sold there take longer to get up to “fall apart” condition. They appear to last longer, but it’s kind of a mirage.
the japanese cars I’ve owned (two out of three, anyway) have been far inferior to the american-named, mexican or canadian built cars i’ve owned.
but, first-year bugs aside, I think japanese companies keep their best products for the home market
07/03, 6:30 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Veda: I’m no racist, because i love women of all types. from germany to japan to ghana i bet there’s attractive women in antarctica!
07/03, 6:33 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
jbird 97 and el2000.
give me a 1991 300zx or a ‘92 300GT VR-4 over just about anything of that era and/or price range. Skyline never made it to america, so i’m ignorant about it outside of Gran Turismo
The EPA sucks!
07/03, 6:56 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
maybe a ‘93 300zx