The Japan Automobile Dealers Association says new vehicle sales surged 78 percent in Japan in March, supported by government subsidies for energy efficient cars.

According to AP, the industry group said Monday, April 2, that sales of new autos totaled 497,959 vehicles in March, up from 279,389 vehicles in the same month a year earlier.

The increase was exaggerated by the sharp drop in sales after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck on March 11, 2011, devastating much of coastal northeastern Japan.

The data show auto sales climbed 3 percent in January-March from a year earlier to 3.1 million vehicles.