Tokyo - Sales of imported cars in Japan plunged to their lowest level in 15 years in 2008 amid oil price surges and the global financial turmoil, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said Thursday.

Sales fell 17.3 per cent to 219,231 units in 2008 compared to the year before. These figures include Japanese cars built overseas.

Sales of imported foreign cars declined 16.3 per cent to 193,902 units, and those of Japanese vehicles produced overseas tumbled 24.4 per cent to 25,329 units.

Germany's Volkswagen AG, which holds a 20.76-per-cent share in Japan's market for foreign cars, sold most vehicles in Japan in 2008 with 45,522 units. Sales were 12.4 per cent lower than the previous year.

Mercedes-Benz with a 16.88-per-cent share sold 37,002 units, down 21 per cent.

Sales of BMW were down 23.7 per cent at 35,945 units. The company held 16.4-per-cent share, the association said. (dpa)