Japan carmakers' U.S. sales rise in July as Mideast tensions boost hybrids

NEW YORK - The combined new vehicle sales in the United States of four major Japanese automakers rose 1.9 percent in July from a year earlier to 446,544 units, buoyed by robust demand for hybrids amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

The deteriorating situation in the region has pushed up gasoline prices across the globe, providing a tailwind for fuel-efficient hybrids, with Japanese automakers strengthening their lineups as demand for new cars remains resilient in the United States.