The first eight months of the year, however, saw a slight increase in total sales, and sales for used cars in August were up compared to the July numbers.
According to the Commonwealth Auto Dealers Association, Saipan’s three car dealers sold 43 cars in August compared to the 62 sold last year.
The three car dealers sold 23 sedans, 18 sports utility vehicles, one truck and one van.
Microl Corp. again topped the list, disposing 23 units — 13 of which were Toyota sedans, nine SUVs and one truck.
Microl had 53.49 percent of the total market share.
Joeten Motors and Triple “J” Motors each sold 10 units last month.
Toyota remained the island’s preferred brand with 22 units sold. Ford and Mazda followed with four units each. Honda sold three, while Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Suzuki sold two each. Chevrolet and Kia sold only one each.
The first eight months of 2008 posted a 2.26 percent increase in sales compared to the same period last year.
From January to August, 453 cars were sold by the three dealers compared to last year’s 443.
Sold from January to August this year were 252 sedans, 44 trucks, 40 vans, 111 SUV’s and 6 “others.”
Joeten Motors is the local distributor of Nissan, Ford, Honda and Kia.
Microl Corp. is the distributor for Toyota and Chevrolet while Triple “J” Motors distributes Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki and Mazda.
Sales for used cars went up by 27 percent in August compared to the figure in July.
Joeten Motors sold the highest number of units, 13, for a 35.1 percent market share while Microl Corp. and Triple “J” Motors sold 12 used cars each.
