Sales Rise for Three Japanese Automakers

TOKYO November 27, 2005; Japan Today reported that Honda Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp and Mitsubishi Motors Corp marked year-on-year increases in domestic sales in October, but those of Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co suffered declines, the automakers said Friday.

Domestic sales of Mazda rose for the eighth consecutive month to 21,169 units, up 0.7% from a year earlier, while those of Mitsubishi, hit hard by its vehicle defect coverup scandals last year, grew for the six straight month to post a year-on-year increase of 11.6% to 14,854 units. Honda increased its sales for the second consecutive month to 53,791 units, up 5.7%