China sales continue to drop for Japan automakers

Combined sales for Japanese car makers Toyota (TM.NYSE, 7203.TYO), Honda (HMC.NYSE, 7267.TYO), and Nissan (7201.TYO) fell for a fourth quarter in a row, an indication they are still suffering from a surge in anti-Japanese sentiment, Bloomberg reported. Despite the combined decrease, Toyota actually gained 0.6%. The overall loss was attributed to last year’s territorial dispute between the two countries in the East China Sea, which led to demonstrations in major cities throughout China. Sales could recover in the second half of the year, but regaining their pre-dispute market share of 22% would be “impossible,” Vivien Chan, an analyst at Oriental Patron Holdings in Hong Kong, said.