Domestic sales of new minivehicles in April decreased 2.9 percent to 141,600 units, marking the first year-on-year drop in five months, the Japan Minivehicles Association said Tuesday.

By category, passenger minicar sales rose 0.6 percent from a year earlier to 97,211 units, up for the forth consecutive month, but sales of minivehicles for commercial purposes decreased 9.9 percent to 44,389 units, down for the fourth consecutive month, the association said.

Minivehicles are defined as motor vehicles with engine displacements of not more than 660cc.

By maker, Honda Motor Co. alone posted an increase, up 10.4 percent, to 21,199 units, thanks to the strong performance of its commercial-use minicars. All others -- including Suzuki Motor Corp., Daihatsu Motor Co. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. -- suffered declines.

Association officials said that although minicar sales declined in April, the overall sales level still remains high.

Import car sales drop

Sales of imported automobiles in April decreased 4.5 percent from a year earlier to 19,057 units, down for the fourth consecutive month, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said Tuesday.

Imported cars made by foreign automakers fell 3.3 percent to 17,301 units, posting the first year-on-year decrease in two months. Imported vehicles assembled overseas by Japanese automakers declined 14.8 percent to 1,756 units, down for the seventh consecutive month, the association said.

Association officials attributed the decrease to the prolonged economic slump.

Mercedes-Benz sold 3,432 models in April, becoming the most-favored among imported cars, followed by Volkswagen with 3,379 vehicles and BMW with 2,042 units.