Domestic sales of new vehicles in November plunged 27.3 percent from a year earlier to 215,783 units, the fourth consecutive monthly decline and the lowest total for the month in 39 years, as the worsening economy dampened consumer sentiment, an industry body said Dec. 1.

Sales for this year are estimated to fall to around 3.2 million units, a level comparable to that of 1974, when the industry was hit hard by the oil crisis, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

Sales of passenger cars fell 27.9 percent to 186,554 units and those of trucks dropped 23.8 percent to 28,338 units while sales of buses totaled 891 units, up 0.8 percent.