Japan's total auto sales in 1998 will mark a slight 3 percent rise over this year but remain much lower than the 1996 level, according to a forecast by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
At a regular news conference Thursday, JAMA Chairman Yoshifumi Tsuji also commented on the recently endorsed Kyoto Protocol, saying it will not bring about a drastic shift in how the nation addresses global warming.
As for auto sales, he said that the nation's exports will remain high throughout 1998 as domestic demand remains weak. Taking the recently announced economic stimulus measures into account, JAMA forecasts total auto sales to rise to 6.88 million in 1998, compared with an estimated 6.68 million this year, but still below the 7.08 million sold in 1996.