Sales of minivehicles in Japan dropped 1.7 percent in July from the same month a year earlier to 163,814 units, posting the first year-on-year fall in three months, the Japan Mini Vehicles Association said Tuesday.
Sales of minicars rose 1.1 percent to 112,074 units for the sixth straight month of increase, while those of commercial-use minivehicles declined 7.3 percent to 51,740 units, down for the sixth consecutive month, the group said.
Minivehicles are defined as motor vehicles with an engine capacity of up to 660cc.
By maker, sales at Suzuki Motor Corp. fell 2.1 percent to 47,534 units, followed by Daihatsu Motor Co., up 2.9 percent to 44,374 units.
Honda Motor Co. placed third with sales of 25,463 units, down 5.4 percent.