Japan Import Sales Backslide 1.0% in First-Half 2015

TOKYO – Import-vehicle sales fell 1.0% in Japan to 167,197 units during the first six months of 2015, according to Japan Automobile Importers Assn. data.

The first-half result leaves the import market on track to fall just short of the 2014 total of 335,960 sales. The association in January had predicted slightly higher growth in 2015, but provided no forecast.

Of the January-June total, car sales fell 0.9% to 159,585. Truck and bus imports declined 26.3% to 7,612.

Foreign brands accounted for an 85.6% share on sales of 144,639 units. Imports by Japanese automakers totaled 22,558, with Nissan accounting for roughly half with 11,911, followed by Toyota with 7,484. Most of the Japanese companies’ imports are built in Southeast Asia.

Mercedes-Benz was the best-selling import brand with sales of 32,680 units, up 19.1% from first-half 2014. Volkswagen was next with 29,666, down 16.5%, followed by BMW at 22,674, up 0.9%.

Rounding out the top ten were Audi at 15,747, Nissan (11,911), Mini (10,338), Toyota (7,484), Volvo (6,408), Jeep (3,486) and Porsche (3,181).

U.S. manufacturers excluding BMW USA sold 7,204 units, led by Ford, which ranked 15th on the list with 2,430 deliveries. U.S. brands farther down the ranks of importers were Chevrolet (86) and Cadillac (83).

The top-selling import model during the 6-month period was the Volkswagen Golf with 14,140 deliveries, followed by the Mercedes C-Class (11,437), Mini (10,338), BMW 3-Series (8,221) and Volkswagen Polo (6,999).

In 2014, the Golf was the top-selling import model with 31,410 deliveries, leading the field as it has since 2008.