AutomobilesChina leads global auto sales out of slump, while Japan lags
US and Europe see light at end of tunnel as dealerships reopen
A Volkswagen dealership in the U.K. waits for customers on June 1. Auto sales in Britain appear to be bottoming out. © Reuters
SHUJI NAKAYAMA, KOSEI FUKAO and KOSUKE TERAI, Nikkei staff writers
NEW YORK/FRANKFURT/TOKYO -- Auto sales have returned to growth in China and begun to show signs of improvement in the U.S. and Europe as coronavirus lockdowns ease, but the effects of a consumption tax hike still have Japan going in the wrong direction.