Japan's domestic sales of new motor vehicles plunged 28.6 percent in April from a year earlier to 166,365 units, marking the lowest monthly level due to the slack demand amid global economic downturn.
The figure marked the worst monthly level since the comparable data became available since 1968, Japan Automobile Dealers Association said.
Domestic sales of cars, buses and trucks, excluding minivehicles with engine displacements of up to 660 cc, tumbled for the ninth consecutive month.
Most Japanese carmakers suffered double-digit declines. The only exception is Honda Motor Co.. The Japan's second-largest automaker sold 32,387 units in April, up 4.0 percent from a year earlier for its first increase in six months.
Honda's unexpected boom resulted from the popularity of its low-priced Insight hybrid hatchback, which debuted in early February.
Meanwhile, domestic sales of minivehicles also fell 13.4 percent from a year earlier to 117,670 units in April, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline.