TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- New vehicle sales in Japan fell 13.7 percent in July from a year earlier, reflecting weak demand amid the COVID-19 outbreak, industry body data showed on Monday.
According to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, 396,346 units of new cars were sold in July for a 10th straight monthly decline.
However, the pace of decline slowed from June's of plunge of 22.9 percent, with demand rebounding after the government completely lifted a nationwide state of emergency over COVID-19 in late May.
The data also showed that excluding minivehicles, sales of cars, trucks and buses logged a 20.4 percent decline in July from a year earlier to 239,355 units.
The figure is the second-lowest level since comparable data became available in 1968, slipping below the 241,472 units reported in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami which disrupted supply chains.
Meanwhile, sales of minivehicles with an engine displacement of up to 660 cc dropped 1.1 percent in July to 156,991 units, according to data by the Japan Mini Vehicles Association.
In terms of brands, Nissan Motor Co. saw a 29.5 percent drop, followed by Honda Motor Co.'s 26.0 percent and Toyota Motor Corp.'s 16.2 percent. Enditem
