Tokyo, Oct. 3 (Jiji Press)–New automobile sales in Japan in April-September fell below two million units for the first time in 11 years for a fiscal first half, industry data showed Monday.

The six-month sales slid 6.2 pct from a year before to 1,923,489 units. In April-September 2011, sales fell to 1.93 million units following the country’s huge earthquake and tsunami in March that year.

This year’s drop reflected difficulties procuring auto parts due to prolonged semiconductors shortages and supply chain turmoil amid the novel coronavirus crisis.

The latest sales were lowest for a fiscal first half since October 1998, when Japan adopted the current standards on the length and width of minivehicles powered by engines of up to 660 cc.

April-September sales of minivehicles fell by 0.2 pct to 750,593 units, and those of larger vehicles by 9.6 pct to 1,172,896 units.

Industry leader Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> saw its new vehicle sales plunge 16.4 pct.

The overall sales data were released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association.

In September alone, new automobile sales jumped 24.1 pct from a year before to 395,163 units, the first increase in 15 months.

The result followed a sharp drop a year before and is “not brisk for September,” an official of the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association said.