Japanese car sales dip as the Senkaku issue lingers

Japanese automobile sales in China dipped sharply in China last month as the anti-Japan demonstrations over the Senkaku Islands swept across China.

Sales by Fuji Heavy Industries crashed 64.5% compared with a year ago to only 1,857 units sold.  That works out to a 50% month-on-month plunge.  “We have been unable to conduct marketing activities in China,” says a Fuji Heavy official who notes the anti-Japanese demonstrations took precedence.  Fuji says its overall sales remain strong because of both domestic and U.S. sales.

Mitsubishi Motors reports its sales dropped 62.9% to only 2,340 vehicles in September, while Mazda Motor Corp., reports its sales slipped 34.6% to 13,258 units.  Suzuki Motor Corp., which builds cars in Chongquing, China, has cut back to daytime hours only in recent weeks, but says it is resuming a normal two-shift system.