日系６社、いずれもプラス　ＨＶ好調で―２３年の米新車販売

　【ニューヨーク時事】日本の自動車メーカー６社が３日発表した２０２３年の米新車販売台数は前年比でいずれもプラスとなり、合計で１６．４％増の約５５４万台だった。強みを持つハイブリッド車（ＨＶ）の売れ行きが好調だったほか、半導体不足による生産の混乱が解消に向かった。
　トヨタ自動車は主力のスポーツ用多目的車（ＳＵＶ）「ＲＡＶ４」がけん引し、６．６％増の２２４万８４７７台。うちＨＶは２７．８％増の約６４万台だった。担当者は「電気自動車（ＥＶ）の充電インフラがまだ不十分な中、不安なく走れるＨＶが選ばれている」と述べた。
　半導体不足が響いて２２年に大きく落ち込んだホンダは、供給状況の改善に伴い、３３．０％増の１３０万８１８６台となった。ＨＶは３倍の約２９万台に伸びた。日産自動車は２３．２％増の８９万８７９６台だった。（2024/01/04-06:58）

Combined new automobile sales by six major Japanese makers in the U.S. market in 2023 rose 16.4 pct from the previous year to 5.54 million units, according to data released by the companies Wednesday.
   Sales rose at all of the six makers reflecting brisk demand for hybrid vehicles and an easing of production disruptions caused by semiconductor shortages.
   Toyota Motor Corp.'s sales increased 6.6 pct to 2,248,477 units, led by the popularity of its mainstay RAV4 SUV. Of the total, sales of hybrid vehicles came to some 640,000 units, up 27.8 pct.
   "At a time when the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is still insufficient, hybrid vehicles have been attracting demand as they allow people to drive without anxiety," a Toyota official said.
   After logging a sharp drop in 2022, Honda Motor Co.'s sales went up 33 pct to 1,308,186 units last year as the semiconductor supply situation improved. Sales of Honda's hybrid vehicles increased threefold to some 290,000 units.