Sales of imported motor vehicles fell 1.6 percent in fiscal 2001 from the previous year to 272,560 units after rising in fiscal 2000 for the first time in four years, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said Thursday.

The figure for the year that ended Sunday covers 258,684 vehicles from foreign makers, up 0.2 percent, and 13,876 Japanese vehicles manufactured overseas, down 26 percent, the association said.

By brand, Volkswagen took the largest share of Japan's import market for the reporting year -- 22.10 percent -- by selling 60,226 units, down 1.4 percent from the previous year. Mercedes-Benz came second with an 18.72 percent share and sales of 51,020 units, down 3.6 percent, while BMW placed third at 13.09 percent with 35,691 units, down 0.8 percent.