Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. led a rise in domestic auto sales in February as recently introduced models drew more car buyers.
Sales at Honda rose 12.9 percent to 38,166 units helped by its Fit compact car introduced in October, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday. Sales of cars, trucks and buses rose 0.1 percent to 322,613 from a year earlier. The total excludes minicars.
Redesigned models including Nissan's X-Trail sport utility vehicle have helped stem a decline in Japanese auto sales, where inflation and a shrinking population are dampening demand. Vehicle sales, including minicars, will likely fall 1.2 percent this year to about 5.32 million, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
"The new models are helping lift sales temporarily," said Yasuhiro Matsumoto, a senior analyst at Shinsei Securities Co. in Tokyo. "A contracting car market and unfavorable macroeconomic factors will make it difficult for carmakers to keep sales flat this year."
Toyota Motor Corp.'s sales fell 2.9 percent to 145,218 vehicles. Nissan reported a 4.4 percent rise in sales to 62,799 vehicles.
Japan's vehicle sales excluding minicars fell to their lowest in 35 years last year. Consumer prices rose for a fourth month in January, matching the fastest pace in more than nine years, eroding spending power.
Sales of minicars, powered by engines no larger than 660cc, fell 1.5 percent to 180,004 units last month.