Japanese vehicle sales fell by 6.5 per cent in April according to figures released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

The data, which excludes 660cc minivehicles, represents the first year-on-year fall in eight months, and included a ten per cent drop in sales of small cars, which account for about four-fifths of the passenger car sector.

However, analysts such as ING Securities analyst Kurt Sanger said they expected the figures to pick up once a number of new models were launched later in the year, particularly Toyota's 'Raum' multi-purpose vehicle and Mitsubishi Motors's 'Grandis' minivan.

'The sales figure shouldn't stay this low,' Mr Sanger commented.

Honda Motor was among the hardest hit companies, seeing non-minivehicle sales fall 38 per cent in April.