TOKYO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Japanese sales of minivehicles in
December fell 6.7 percent from a year earlier to 122,770 units,
the Japan Mini Vehicle Association said on Monday.

For the full year, sales fell 2.6 percent, down for a second
straight year. The industry group forecast 2009 sales to total
1.84 million vehicles, down 1.6 percent.

Sales of minivehicles, which have maximum engine
displacements of 660cc and account for roughly one-third of the
domestic auto market, for December and 2008 were as follows.

DECEMBER JANUARY-DECEMBER
TOTAL 122,770 (- 6.7) 1,869,893 (- 2.6)
Cars 93,759 (- 6.0) 1,426,979 (- 1.4)
Commercial vehicles 29,011 (- 8.9) 442,914 (- 6.3)

A breakdown of the sales data by company was as follows.

DECEMBER JANUARY-DECEMBER
Suzuki Motor (7269.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 39,172 (- 3.6) 590,280 (- 0.2)
Daihatsu Motor (7262.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 39,345 (- 0.4) 635,164 (+ 3.3)
Honda Motor (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 18,261 (- 5.6) 200,919 (-10.2)
M'bishi Motors (7211.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 7,393 (-19.0) 123,829 (-13.1)
Fuji Heavy (7270.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 7,238 (-29.1) 121,693 (-13.7)
*Nissan Motor (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 8,041 (-14.0) 140,607 (- 6.4)
*Mazda Motor (7261.T: Quote, Profile, Research) 3,313 (- 4.0) 57,299 (+ 2.8)

*Mazda sells Suzuki-made minivehicles under its own nameplate.
Nissan sells minicars made by Suzuki and and Mitsubishi Motors.

Minivehicles have maximum engine displacements of 660cc and
receive preferential tax treatment.