The figure represents 6.7 percent of the 246,196 imported cars sold in the year ended last month, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said.
Meanwhile, passenger EV sales in Japan, including those made by domestic carmakers, accounted for just 2 percent of total car sales in fiscal 2022, according to data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association, underscoring the country's dependence on gasoline-powered cars.
Of the 3.61 million passenger cars newly sold in Japan, about 77,000 were EVs, the organizations said, noting that the higher EV percentage for imported cars may reflect the wider variety of products offered by foreign makers than their Japanese rivals.
Government subsidies prompted more drivers to turn to environment-friendly, all-electric vehicles, the association added.
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