Sales of imported cars in Japan rose 3.4 percent in April compared to the same month the previous year.

The 19,351 sales marked the first rise in eight months, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said Wednesday, adding that the introduction of new models helped boost the April figure.

Sales of vehicles made by foreign automakers rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier to 18,438 units. Sales of Japanese vehicles manufactured overseas made up the remainder, 913 units, logging growth of 6.9 percent. The rise was boosted by solid sales of Honda Motor Co.'s Civic produced in Britain, the group said.