Japan Auto Sales Jump 8.6% in January

Japan’s domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses rose 8.6% in January from a year earlier, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Wednesday. Sales of all vehicles totaled 258,085 in January, buoyed by New Year purchases for new vehicles, Market Watch reports. 

Separately, sales of minicars with an engine displacement of up to 660cc fell 1.1% in January to 143,565 vehicles, the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association said. The sales of minicars has taken a hit in recent years with more people opting out of the lower powered vehicles, however, Suzuki is looking to turn that market around with the imminent arrival of its new Wagon R tall-minicar. 

The Wagon R for the Japanese market will be powered by a 660 cc petrol engine which churns out a power of 50 bhp along with 60 Nm of torque. Auto sales, as measured by vehicles registrations, are monitored closely by economists because they are the first consumer spending numbers released each month.