Minivehicles Increase Market Share in Japan
15 September 2007
Nikkei. Minivehicles have increased their share of new car sales during the first half of 2007, while the overall new car sales market in Japan continues to shrink, according to data compiled by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.
New car sales in Japan fell 7.4% year on year to 2.84 million units in the first half of 2007. However, the sales ratio for minivehicles rose 2.2 percentage points to 37.1%, with the figures moving higher in every prefecture.
Demand for minivehicles, which have engine displacements of up to 660cc, is expanding because the automobile tax on them is lower, among other reasons. The shift to minivehicles was especially strong in regional areas, while sales of cars overall decreased nationwide.
More minivehicles are sold than standard-size cars in 14 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Minivehicles did not surpass 30% share in only four prefectures: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Osaka.
New car sales dropped in all 47 prefectures, with the sharpest decline of 13.8% recorded in Osaka.
I guess that is what you get when you have an aging, rational population.
37% minicars is quite a figure - but I suppose they are quite nice now with the amount of technology available to the car companies - nice but small.
It is a pity other countries don't introduce the tax breaks for them - you never know what might happen.
Posted by: mahonj | 15 September 2007 at 08:27 AM
Can a 6'+ person fit into one of these minicars comfortably?
Posted by: Elliot | 16 September 2007 at 10:35 AM
I'm 6'2" and I can fit very comfortably in a Smart.
Posted by: Richard | 17 September 2007 at 10:04 AM
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Posted by: dmqht yxihdw | 03 November 2007 at 08:29 PM