Auto output up for 1st time in 3 years in 2017

January 31, 2018

Tokyo- Combined domestic automobile production by eight major Japanese makers in 2017 rose 5.5 percent from the previous year to 9,194,821 units, the first increase in three years, data from the companies showed Tuesday.

The result was backed by brisk new auto sales in Japan.

Five automakers including Toyota Motor Corp. posted growth in their domestic auto production, while Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. incurred declines.

Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota unit, saw its domestic production jump 27.2 percent to a record high of 919,516 units, thanks to strong sales of the Roomy and Tank subcompact cars, supplied to the parent for sale under the Toyota brand.

Suzuki Motor Corp.'s domestic output grew 24.3 percent to 987,537 units, jacked up by robust sales of its Swift compact car.

Meanwhile, combined overseas production at the eight companies climbed for the sixth straight year, hitting a record high of 19,475,612 units, up 3.9 percent.

Six scaled record highs, excluding Daihatsu and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. .

Overseas output expanded 3.1 percent to 4,749,305 units at Nissan Motor Co. and 5.8 percent to 4,419,342 units at Honda, both thanks to increased production in China.

Suzuki's overseas production advanced 7.6 percent to 2,314,799 units, as Indian production grew.

Toyota, Nissan and Honda suffered declines in their US auto production, mainly reflecting the sluggish sales of their passenger cars in the country.

Meanwhile, Subaru enjoyed a 20 percent increase in US auto output after starting local production of its Impreza passenger car for the North American market.

In December alone, overall domestic auto production rose 1.8 percent from a year before to 758,342 units, marking the 14th straight month of increase. Overseas output was up 1.7 percent at 1,505,616 units. Jiji Press