Sales of imported motor vehicles in Japan fell 6.8 percent in July from a year earlier to 22,050 units, snapping a two-month rising streak, the Japan Automobile Importers Association announced on Friday.
The total sales figure consists of 20,138 foreign vehicles, down 5.4 percent, and 1,912 Japanese-brand vehicles made at overseas plants, down 19.3 percent, the association said.
The July sales brought cumulative sales in the January-July period to 160,941 vehicles, a decline of 2.9 percent.
Volkswagen remained the top-selling brand in July with sales up 37.9 percent to 5,332 units and giving it a 24.18 percent share of the imported motor vehicle market.
Mercedes-Benz was placed second with sales of 3,285 vehicles, down 17 percent for a 14.90 percent share of the market, followed by BMW with 2,377 vehicles, down 15.9 percent for a 10.78 percent share.
Volvo ranked fourth with sales of 1,092 vehicles, down 3.2 percent for a 4.95 percent share.
Vitz recovers lead
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Vitz compact car recovered the lead in Japan's new car sales in July, with 13,745 sold, after losing the top position to Honda Motor Co.'s Odyssey minivan in June, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Friday.
Toyota's Estima minivan ranked second, with 13,127 sold, followed by Toyota's Corolla with sales of 12,198 and Toyota's bB minivan with 11,670 sold, a monthly record for the new model, the industry group said.
Honda's Odyssey, which in June became the company's first car to be No. 1, fell to the No. 5 spot in July, with 10,884 sold, the group said.
The Vitz had been the top-selling new car for five consecutive months from January.