Toyota Corolla models led Japan's vehicle sales rankings in the first half of the year, after the company fixed the model in October for the first time in six years.
The Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Thursday in a release that sales of the Corolla climbed 9.4 percent to 77,326 units in the six-month period that ended June 30. Toyota also took second place along with the Vitz compact car.
With engines of 1 to 1.5 liters, compact cars comprise the second-largest car segment in Japan behind minicars. Hirofumi Yokoi, an analyst at CSM Worldwide, said the category commanded a 28.9 percent market share or almost 1.56 million vehicles in 2006, and will grow to 29.4 percent this year.
Yokoi also said the segment will grow the fastest this year because of the top-selling three models, particularly the new Corolla. CSM forecasts the minicar category will decline from a 37.3 percent share in 2006 to 36.4 percent this year.
Equipped with quality , Corolla topped the sales ranking in June for a ninth straight month, followed by Toyota's Vitz and Honda's Fit.
Selling 4 out of every 10 vehicles in Japan, Toyota claimed 4 of the top 10 slots in sales rankings last month.
Excluding minicars and imports, Japan's vehicle sales dropped for its 24th straight month in June by 11.2 percent to 291,640 units. Sales in the first half of 2007 dropped to their lowest since 1975 to 1.8 million.
Aside from Toyota, other Japanese car makers also achieved an increase. Honda Motor's Fit compact was the third best-selling model. Suzuki Motor's Wagon R and minicars kept the top slot for a fifth straight month, with sales of 19,786 in June. The second spot went to Daihatsu Motor's Move, followed by Daihatsu's Mira.
Minicars are powered by engines not larger than 0.66 liters. They accounted for 6 of the 10 best-selling models in June.
About Toyota
In June 12, 2006, Toyota was named as one the Best Companies for Diversity by Black Enterprise. With 40 companies that were ncluded last year, the list recognizes companies that have demonstrated important representation of African Americans and other ethnic minorities in areas that include procurement, corporate boards, senior management, and the total workforce. This was the first time that Toyota has participated in the Black Enterprise survey, which looks at more than 1,000 of America's biggest publicly traded companies, as well as global companies with significant U.S. operations.
