TOKYO -- Nissan Motor's sales in Japan have been trending down following an inspection scandal that has forced the automaker to slam the brakes on domestic shipments, raising concerns about repercussions for its more than 10,000 subcontractors.
Domestic sales sank nearly 20% year on year from Oct. 1 to 20, falling to 12,300 units, as car buyers shunned offerings by the tarnished Yokohama-based automaker. Japan's auto sales as a whole, meanwhile, grew just under 10% to about 177,200 units with help from brisk new-car sales.