TABLE-Japan Oct minivehicle sales -8.9 pct year/year

(Reuters will discontinue this item but will continue to issue
tables on new non-mini vehicle sales and overall sales in Japan.
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TOKYO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Japanese sales of minivehicles in
October fell 8.9 percent from a year earlier to 132,452 units,
the Japan Mini Vehicle Association said on Monday.

Sales of minivehicles, which have maximum engine
displacements of 660cc, accounted for 37 percent of the domestic
auto market in 2008 in volume terms.
TOTAL 132,542 (-8.9)
Cars 98,606 (-12.2)
Commercial vehicles 33,936 (+2.4)

A breakdown of the sales data by company was as follows.
Suzuki Motor (7269.T) 46,884 (+1.4)
Daihatsu Motor (7262.T) 49,411 (-9.7)
Honda Motor (7267.T) 9,897 (-19.6)
M'bishi Motors (7211.T) 7,675 (-27.4)
Fuji Heavy (7270.T) 7,188 (-4.0)
*Nissan Motor (7201.T) 7,744 (-23.2)
*Mazda Motor (7261.T) 3,738 (-7.1)

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

Minivehicles receive preferential tax treatment.