Domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses in the first half of 2003 rose 3.7 percent from the same period last year to 2.09 million vehicles, the first year-on-year increase in two years, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Tuesday.
The brisk sales are expected to continue in the second half. Sales of cars will be pushed by new models and those of large trucks by new regulations.
In June alone, domestic vehicle sales rose 2.6 percent from the same month last year to 342,697 units, up for the second straight month, thanks to increased sales of trucks and larger cars, the association said.