Sales of new motor vehicles rose 5.8 percent in July from a year earlier to 390,653 units, resuming their ascent after a drop in June that had snapped an eight-month rising streak, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Wednesday.
The figures exclude minivehicles -- vehicles with engine capacities of up to 660cc -- and specialty vehicles such as trailers.
Sales of cars with engine capacities of more than 2000cc rose 11.7 percent to 73,187. Those of smaller passenger cars grew 11.8 percent to 223,526, the association said.
Truck sales dropped 9.8 percent to 92,489. Sales of buses rose 31.3 percent to 1,451, mainly due to more bus sales at Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which made full model changes.
By maker, Toyota Motor Corp. was the top seller at 166,390 units, up 3.2 percent, followed by Nissan Motor Co. at 72,518 units, up 7.8 percent.
Honda Motor Co. came third, with sales at 56,396, up 47 percent.
Mitsubishi Motors saw sales fall 21.5 percent to 22,299 as overall sales continued to slump following a coverup scandal involving vehicle defects.
Mazda Motor Corp., in fifth place in terms of sales, sold 21,185 units, down 11.6 percent.
Meanwhile, sales of minivehicles in July fell 2.5 percent from a year earlier to 159,754 units, down for the 13th consecutive month, the Japan Mini Vehicles Association said the same day.
By maker, Suzuki Motor Corp. was the top seller, with sales up 5.6 percent to 50,191 units.
Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota subsidiary, came second with sales at 45,505, up 2.5 percent, followed by Mitsubishi Motors with sales at 21,819, down 12.1 percent, and Honda at 20,339, down 20.1 percent.