Unit sales of minivehicles in June marked their ninth consecutive month of year-on-year increase with 165,466 units, up 29.2 percent compared with the same month last year, an industry association said Tuesday.
According to the Japan Mini Vehicle Association, total unit sales for the first half of the year also hit a record high of 967,353 units, up 28.1 percent from the same period last year.
Sales of minivehicles have performed well since last fall, when a number of carmakers rushed to release new models in accordance with a revision in size regulations for vehicles with engine displacement of 660cc or smaller.
Association officials said double-digit year-on-year increases in unit sales are likely to continue through September.
By category, sales of mini passenger vehicles hit 106,122 units in June, up 52 percent from the same month last year, also marking the ninth month of year-on-year growth, the association said.