Shipments of All Low-emission Vehicles in Japan Drop 3.9% in FY 2007; Hybrids Alone Up 0.1%
21 October 2008
Shipments of low-emission vehicles in Japan dropped 3.9% to 3,929,047 units in Fiscal Year 2007 (which ended March 2008), according to figures from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). This marks the second consecutive annual drop in such shipments, and reflects the slowdown in overall demand for automobiles in the country.
Low emission vehicles include those with fuel-efficient gasoline engines, alternative-fueled vehicles, hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Shipments of gasoline-electric hybrids in fiscal 2007 rose 0.1% from FY 2006 to an all-time high of 90,253, JAMA said.
The percentage gain in hybrids was largest in minitrucks (engine up to 660 cc displacement), which rose 48.5% to 101 units in the fiscal year. Sales of hybrid trucks with larger engines rose 35.9% to 2,088 units. Shipments of hybrids buses rose 39.3% to a record 78 units. Shipments of passenger car hybrids, however, dropped 0.4% to 88,256 units.
Shipments of the Prius rose 4.1% to 84,183 units, while those of Honda Motor Co. hybrid sales dropped 47.4% to 4,073 units. Shipments of natural gas vehicles came to 2,175 units during the year. There were no recorded shipments of vehicles in the battery-electric, fuel-cell, or methanol-powered vehicle categories.
This must be shipments of LEVs to the Japan market alone?
Because the Honda Civic Hybrid sold over 4000 units in the US in April 2008 alone.
Posted by: Dave | 21 October 2008 at 11:10 AM
who would want to be driving in japan anyways? their public transportation will get you there faster, and cheaper. That's when you know personal transportation has no meeting anymore, if anything it can be more of a hassle with you having to pay way more, and driving in Tokyo wouldn't be fun either epically during rush hour...
Posted by: philmcneal | 21 October 2008 at 08:06 PM
Who? those who drive for their job (local delivery, taxis) and those who don't live in Tokyo, Sendai or Osaka. If you are away from the major urban areas the mass transit is not as well developed (which is reasonable since it would be serving a much smaller population). If I lived in Tokyo I wouldn't drive anywhere...if I lived out in Hachinohe or Kochi-ben I would have trouble functioning without a car for 20% of my trips.
Posted by: | 22 October 2008 at 09:03 AM