Business Apr. 11, 2008 - 06:01AM JST ( 1 )

TOKYO —

Sales of used vehicles in Japan, excluding minivehicles, fell 8.3% from the previous year to 4,473,269 units in fiscal 2007, hitting the lowest level since fiscal 1986, industry data showed Thursday. Used auto sales dropped for the second straight year, according to the data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

The poor performance came as the number of good-quality trade-in vehicles available on the used auto market decreased in line with sluggish sales of new vehicles, the industry group said.

Increased exports to Russia and other emerging markets were also behind the fall in domestic used auto sales, it said.

Of the total, used passenger car sales fell 7.4% to 3,838,336 units, slipping below the four-million mark for the first time in 19 years. 

JCN