Japan's domestic car sales drop 51%May 3, 2011 - 09:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Japan's domestic sales of cars, trucks and buses fell by a record amount in April, hit by the aftermath of the country's earthquake and tsunami. With production halted and supply chains broken, sales last month were 51% lower than a year earlier, said the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, BBC reports. It said sales would continue to be subdued in the months ahead because of a continuing shortage of parts. April's decline followed a 37% fall in vehicle sales in March. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association (Jada) said domestic sales in April totaled 108,824. Sales of Toyota brand plunged 68.7 percent to 35,557 units. Sales of Nissan Motor dipped by 37.2 percent to 17,413 and that of Honda Motor dropped 48.5 percent. The 51% fall from a year earlier was the biggest decline since records began in 1968. The all-time record fall was 45%, which was recorded in May 1974 during the global oil price crisis. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia's Davit Chaloyan qualifies for Paris Olympics The Armenian boxer qualified for Paris Olympics after a series of successful bouts at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament. Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. French-Armenian journalist returns to France after 41-day hunger strike Nicolian said on social media on Sunday, June 2 that he needs to improve his health in order to “continue the fight”. Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. |