The Daihatsu Tanto remained Japan's best-selling car in May, taking the top slot for the second month in a row, industry bodies said Thursday.
Year-on-year sales of most other models fell due to the 3-point consumption tax hike in April, but Tanto sales soared 88.4 percent from the previous year to 18,656 units, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said.
Suzuki Motor Corp.'s Wagon R was the next best-selling vehicle, despite sales falling 2.1 percent to 13,258 units.
Excluding minicars with engines up to 660cc — which made up six of the top 10 — the Honda Fit was the best-selling car in May, followed by Toyota Motor Corp.'s Aqua, Prius and Voxy.
Of the 10 models in the rankings, six marked year-on-year declines, with sales of the Prius hybrid nearly halved.
New imports decline
Sales of new imported vehicles, including those built abroad by Japanese companies, sank 20.7 percent in May from the previous year to 20,602 units, an industry body said Thursday.
Sales of foreign-brand vehicles fell 13.4 percent to 17,919 units, while Japanese brands plunged 49.1 percent to 2,683 units, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said.