New vehicle sales in July, excluding minivehicles, fell 13.5 percent from a year earlier to 284,314 units, an industry body said Thursday.

Car sales dropped 15.5 percent to 249,899 units, while truck sales rose 4.2 percent to 33,516 units and bus sales gained 14.2 percent to 899 units, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said.

Sales of new minivehicles with an engine displacement of up to 660cc grew 1.7 percent in July to 187,797 units, according to the Japan Mini Vehicles Association.