Japanese auto makers see rebound in China sales

Japanese car makers have reported the first year-on-year sales growth in China in five months, The Wall Street Journal reported. Nissan (7201.TYO) on Monday posted a 22% year-over-year rise in sales volume to 115,700 vehicles for the month, and Honda (HMC.NYSE, 7267.TYO) reported sales at its two joint ventures also grew 22% to 47,248 vehicles. Analysts attribute the surge mostly to China’s Spring Festival, which this year falls in February, leading to a comparatively strong January. Sales typically slow dramatically over the weeklong holiday, although the figures may indicate a decline in anti-Japanese sentiment in the mainland sparked by dispute over islands in the East China Sea, which had contributed to weaker sales.