TOKYO: New automobile sales in Japan in April dropped 14.4 percent from a year before to 299,620 units, down for the 10th straight month, industry data showed Monday.

The bleak result reflected prolonged shortages of semiconductors and difficulties procuring parts due to the lockdown in Shanghai, which started in late March following the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in the Chinese city.

Sales of minivehicles with engines of up to 660 cc fell 13.4 percent to 120,859 units, and those of vehicles with larger engines sagged 15.0 percent to 178,761 units, according to the data from the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association and the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

Seven of the eight major Japanese automakers, excluding Subaru Corp., posted year-on-year sales declines.

The course of sales is uncertain as at least one major automaker has decided to suspend plant operations temporarily in May.

“The number of orders has not been bad, but we are worried that vehicle deliveries are taking a while and motivation to buy may fall as a result,” an official of the light motor vehicle association said.

JIJI Press