One can always count on the Japanese to be first with a precise sales count for the preceding month.  New car sales in Japan rose for the 12th straight month in July, up 15.5 percent compared to July of the previous year. Customers bought 333,403 units in July, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association told The Nikkei [sub].

What’s interesting is the continuing resurgence of the bigger stuff. Standard-size cars increased 20.3 percent, compact cars climbed 11.6 percent. Truck sales jumped 24.6 percent.

Separately, the Japan Mini Vehicle Association reported that domestic sales of new mini vehicles rose by 8.6 percdent in July from a year earlier, underscoring the trend back to “real” cars.  At one time, the minivehicles, or “kei” cars owned 1/3 of Japan’s market.

Market observers expect the Japanese market to continue its growth with a big blow-out in September before government inducements go away in October. If the augurs are on their crystal ball, the Japanese market is to collapse in October.