Japan Imported Auto Sales Fall in August

TOKYO September 3, 2003; The AP reported that sales of imported automobiles in Japan fell 13.3 percent in August from the same month a year ago as consumers waited for the release of new models in coming months, an industry group said Thursday.

German automakers Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and BMW retained the top three spots among foreign companies in the Japanese market.

The number of imported vehicles sold last month totaled 16,404 vehicles -- 16,183 passenger cars, 213 trucks and eight buses, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said. In August 2002, importers sold 18,918 vehicles.

August marked the fifth straight month that sales of imported vehicles fell, following July's 1.9 percent drop, June's 6.7 percent slip, May's 0.2 percent fall and April's 8.3 percent decline.

In August, foreign car imports fell 15.9 percent to 14,796 units, while sales of similar Japanese models, produced in plants outside Japan, rose 21.8 percent to 1,608 from a year before.

Japan's economy has been slowing for more than a decade, discouraging spending on expensive auto imports. Drivers also are waiting for new models, the association said.

Volkswagen AG was the top foreign automaker, making up about 20 percent of imports and selling 3,243 vehicles, down 7.2 percent in August from last year.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz came in second at 2,773 vehicles and 16.90 percent of the market. BMW sold 1,762 vehicles for 10.74 percent of the market

Among U.S. brands, Chrysler was the top-seller at 429 vehicles, down 5.9 percent. It has 2.6 percent of the Japanese market.