Japanese Automakers’ Domestic Production Up 3.7 Pct in April

May 31, 2018

Tokyo- Combined passenger car output in Japan by eight major domestic makers in April rose 3.7 pct from a year earlier to 735,145 units, up for the third consecutive month, data from the companies showed Wednesday.

The growth reflected brisk exports and positive effects from new model launches. Of the eight makers, Toyota Motor Corp. <7203>, Nissan Motor Co. <7201> and three others posted higher domestic production.

Toyota saw its domestic output grow 1.1 pct to 252,827 units, backed by strong demand for its Camry sedan. Nissan's production rose 9.5 pct to 77,488 units, led by sport-utility vehicles for North America.

Honda Motor Co. saw its domestic output expand 6.3 pct to 67,540 units, reflecting mass production of its Civic sedan for the United States and brisk domestic sales of its N-Box minivehicle.

At Mitsubishi Motors Corp., domestic production soared 42.3 pct to 48,283 units following the launch of its Eclipse Cross SUV.

Domestic production at Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota unit, dropped 7.7 pct to 68,961 units, its first fall in two years, due to a slump in minivehicle sales.

Subaru Corp. posted a 3.4 pct decline in domestic production, to 57,360 units, stemming mainly from sluggish sales of its Forester SUV.

Suzuki Motor Corp.'s domestic production decreased 1.7 pct to 79,648 units.

The eight makers' combined overseas production advanced 5.5 pct to 1,584,482 units.

Honda's overseas output rose 8.5 pct to 361,708 units, a record for the month of April, led by North America.

Suzuki's overseas production jumped 16.3 pct to 211,651 units, also a record for April, thanks to growth in India. Jiji Press