TOKYO, Dec. 6 (Kyodo) — Sales of new imported vehicles in Japan, including those built abroad by Japanese automakers, rose 14.8 percent in November from a year earlier to 26,503 units, an industry body said Thursday.

Of the total, sales of Japanese-brand vehicles gained 29.9 percent to 6,767 units, buoyed by Thai-assembled models such as Nissan Motor Co.’s Latio compact sedan released in October and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s Mirage small car, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said.

Sales of foreign-brand passenger cars, trucks and buses were up 10.4 percent at 19,736 units.

Volkswagen retained top spot with sales of 4,584 units, securing a 17.3 percent market share. BMW ranked second with sales of 3,377 units and a 12.7 percent share, followed by Mercedes-Benz, which sold 3,096 units for an 11.7 percent share.