Japan auto sales to fall to 31-year low

Yearly domestic auto sales in Japan have been projected to fall under 5 million units for the first time in 31 years, industry officials said.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said it expected new car sales, including mini-vehicles with engine displacements of 660 cubic centimeters or less, to total 4.9 million units, down 40 percent from the 1990 peak of 7.8 million, The Asahi Shimbun reported Saturday.

If accurately predicted, 2009 sales would fall short of the 5 million mark for the first time since 1978, when 4.68 million units were sold.

The manufacturers’ association says this year’s new vehicle sales will total 5.1 million units, down 4.5 percent from 2007 and marking the fourth straight year of decline, the newspaper said.