Japanese auto sales improve in China on promotions

Japanese auto brands are gradually recovering from the fallout of anti-Japan protests on the back of heavy sales promotions, according to new data.

Data from several leading Japanese automakers showed improved sales in China last month. New car sales at Honda Motor Co. surged 70.9 percent to 41,205 units from October to November.

Although the figure still marked a decline of 29.2 percent from a year earlier, the decrease narrowed from 54 percent in October and 40.5 percent in September.

Toyota Motor Corp. saw its new car sales jump 39.9 percent to 63,800 units in November from October. The figure fell 22.1 percent year on year, improving from a plunge of 44.1 percent in October and 48.9 percent in September.

Other Japanese automakers that saw an increase in Chinese sales last month included Nissan Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp.

The rebounds came after Japanese auto companies launched sales promotions to lure Chinese consumers, industry insiders said.

Japanese automakers were hit hard this summer amid widespread anti-Japan protests that occurred after Japan announced in October that it would "purchase" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

According to a recent survey by industry information provider www.gasgoo.com, 50 percent of respondents said they believe Japanese auto sales in China bottomed out in November. The survey was given to more than 2,500 industry insiders and experts.

About 64 percent of respondents said they expect a pick-up in sales for Japanese auto brands in the first quarter of 2013 or even earlier. But the extent and duration of the improvement will depend on the development of China-Japan relations, according to the survey results.