Sales of cars, trucks and buses in Japan in fiscal 2005 are projected to rise 1.9 percent over the previous year to 5,935,000 vehicles, an industry body said Thursday.

Of the tally, sales of minivehicles -- cars with engine displacements of up to 660 cc -- are estimated to drop 2.1 percent to 1,835,000 in the business year to March 31, 2006, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.

The association said it expects the market to grow on the strength of new models.