The number of new cars sold in Japan in the last year was more than 4.4 million, a decrease of about 3% from the previous year.
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the supply of parts was delayed and production was reduced one after another, resulting in a year-on-year decrease for the third consecutive year.
According to a summary by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, etc., the number of new cars sold in Japan in the last year was 4,448,340 units, a decrease of 3.2% from the previous year, and it has decreased from the previous year for the third consecutive year.
Looking at the breakdown last year,
▽ ordinary cars and trucks decreased by 2.9% from the previous year to 2,795,818 units, and
▽ light vehicles decreased by 3.8% to 1,652,522 units.
In Southeast Asia, where there are many production bases for parts manufacturers, lockdowns that severely restrict economic activities have been carried out, and the supply of parts such as semiconductors has been stagnant.
In particular, last September was a record drop, with a decrease of more than 30% compared to the same month of the previous year.
In December of last month, the rate of decline compared to the same month of the previous year was somewhat smaller, about 10%, but with the spread of Omicron strains, the focus will be on how much sales will pick up in the future.
Regarding the outlook for the future, an industry group said, "The situation is complicated because the effects such as the stagnation of parts supply from overseas are still continuing. It is not a situation where we can make a forecast."