Hawai'i auto buyers going for imports

Associated Press

More Hawai'i residents are shying away from buying new domestic cars, and opting for imports, according to the latest statistics.

Hawai'i consumers bought 8,473 imported cars and trucks in the first quarter, an 8 percent increase from 7,842 imported vehicles purchased in the same quarter of last year, the Hawai'i Automobile Dealers' Association reported.

Sales of new domestic cars and trucks, meanwhile, fell 9.7 percent to 4,521.

Foreign market share in Hawai'i has increased from 61 percent last year to 65.2 percent this year.

Total new vehicle sales were up 1.1 percent in the first quarter, compared with the same quarter in 2001.

"We had some very good recovery," said Eric Miyasaki, chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Corp. of Hawai'i.

He said the company is looking for an increase of 3 percent to 5 percent on the year.

Hawai'i auto sales got a boost from lower interest rates, as well as the fact that the annual auto show in Honolulu took place earlier in the year than usual, Miyasaki said. The show, usually held in April, took place in March.

Sales of vehicles to rental car companies are not faring too well, because of the drop in tourism since Sept. 11.

Sales to rental agencies dropped 17.6 percent to 10,181 cars in the quarter, compared with same period last year.