[/floatl]Asahi: Vehicle ownerships decline for first time since World War IIThe number of motor vehicles owned in Japan was 79.08 million at the end of fiscal 2007, down 155,000 from 79.23 million in the same period the previous year, the transport ministry said. It was the first year-on-year decline since the government started keeping records in fiscal 1946, and could affect the government's midterm road-construction plans. Industry watchers said the declining interest among youths toward cars and the shrinking population were factors in the drop in sales. They also said skyrocketing fuel prices may have forced many drivers to get rid of their vehicles...more...
