Japan's big 3 lose ground for 4th straight quarter
Japan's three biggest automakers saw their combined sales in China fall for a fourth consecutive quarter, showing they're still recovering from the backlash against Japanese brands following a territorial dispute.
From April through June, total sales at Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. declined 4.9 percent from a year earlier, according to monthly figures released this week.
Individually, Nissan and Honda reported lower deliveries, although their decreases narrowed, while Toyota posted a 0.6 percent gain.
The results illustrate how Japanese automakers are struggling to win back customers after last year's territorial dispute between China and Japan led to demonstrations at major cities across China. Last year, Toyota reported its first sales decline since 2002 and pushed back a plan to make the country its third million-unit market.
"Their total sales will recover in the second half," said Vivien Chan, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Oriental Patron Holdings. "In terms of market share, however, it will be impossible for the Japanese cars to rebound to the 22 percent level they had before the island disputes" as competitors offer or plan to sell more affordable, smaller cars, Chan said.
Toyota's recovery has been the fastest, with sales rising 9 percent in June, the second straight monthly gain. For the year, Toyota aims to boost deliveries 7 percent to 900,000 units.
Individually, Nissan and Honda reported lower deliveries, although their decreases narrowed, while Toyota posted a 0.6 percent gain.
The results illustrate how Japanese automakers are struggling to win back customers after last year's territorial dispute between China and Japan led to demonstrations at major cities across China. Last year, Toyota reported its first sales decline since 2002 and pushed back a plan to make the country its third million-unit market.
"Their total sales will recover in the second half," said Vivien Chan, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Oriental Patron Holdings. "In terms of market share, however, it will be impossible for the Japanese cars to rebound to the 22 percent level they had before the island disputes" as competitors offer or plan to sell more affordable, smaller cars, Chan said.
Toyota's recovery has been the fastest, with sales rising 9 percent in June, the second straight monthly gain. For the year, Toyota aims to boost deliveries 7 percent to 900,000 units.
