Japan New Car Sales:

 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210202/p2g/00m/0bu/024000c

Article:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Sales of new cars in Japan rose 6.8 percent to 384,442 units in January from a year earlier for the fourth straight month of increase, industry body data showed Monday.

The Japan Automobile Dealers Association data suggest the impact on car sales of the second state of emergency over the novel coronavirus, which Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared in Tokyo and 10 prefectures, was limited.

Sales excluding those of minicars rose 6.8 percent to 236,592 vehicles, the data said.

By brand, Toyota Motor Corp. saw sales of 119,504 units, up 13.8 percent, while those of Nissan Motor Co. were up 3.9 percent to 25,438 units.

Ideas:

Perhaps the increase in car sales in January from a year earlier was a result of consumers back in January 2019 still not sure of the sales tax increase from eight percent to ten percent.

Most likely they were still trying to figure out what was going on and or still were not used to the sales tax increase.

While by January 2020 they had become used to the sales tax increase.

And or they were tired of not buying and decided its time to buy.

Article:

The data came amid signs of recovering production and exports, despite fears of economic fallout from a growing number of domestic coronavirus infections and the second state of emergency in Tokyo and other urban areas in the reporting month.

Sales of minivehicles, which have engines no larger than 660 cc, increased 6.6 percent to 147,850 units for the fourth straight month of growth, the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association said.

An association official said, "We will keep a close eye on when the state of emergency is lifted and how it will affect the market."

Ideas:

Its possible that the smaller minivehicles might be a better buy if consumer budgets are constrained, jobs are scarce, and or consumers are worried about spending too much in the present or the future.

While not everyone is 100 percent affected by the virus situation, as some have good jobs etc. with no affect, but there is of course a lot of people, families and businesses who are affected and as such might be looking for way to reduce spending such as buying a smaller car.

But I guess the pandemic can't keep consumers from buying something if they really want it or need it and if they can afford it.

Have a nice day and be safe!