Daihatsu sees '02 Japan minivehicle sales down 3%

TOKYO, Oct 15 Reuters reported that Daihatsu Motor Co, a minivehicle unit of Toyota Motor Corp, said on Tuesday it expected its domestic sales of minivehicles to fall three percent in calendar 2002 from 520,000 units in 2001.

But Daihatsu Managing Director Katsuyuki Kamio told reporters at an unveiling of its remodeled car, the "Move", that the firm would aim to increase minivehicle sales by five percent in the remaining three months of 2002 from year-earlier levels.

He also said Daihatsu would aim for a 27 percent share of the Japanese minivehicle market this year, down from 27.9 percent in 2001.

Sales of Daihatsu minivehicles in Japan from January to September were down 6.3 percent year-on-year, although the overall minivehicle market in Japan is expected to be flat at 1.85 million units this year, Kamio said.

Daihatsu officials said that although the firm's minivehicle sales so far this year have been weak despite the healthy overall minivehicle market, the launch of the remodeled "Move" should help boost sales for the rest of the year.

Daihatsu is targeting monthly sales of 13,000 vehicles.

In June, it also started selling the Copen minicar, which has far outperformed its sales target of 500 vehicles per month.

Earlier this month, Daihatsu halved its forecast for parent recurring profit for the half year through September to 1.5 billion yen ($12.06 million), and lowered its sales forecast to 350 billion yen from 365 billion.

Minivehicles have maximum engine displacement of 660cc and receive preferential tax treatment.