Japan's Major Automakers See 2% Rise In August Production

TOKYO: The combined domestic production of Japan's five major automakers rose 2.1% in August from a year earlier to 502,581 units, according to statistics released Sept. 22 by each of the five carmakers. Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, saw a 9.4% gain in its domestic production in August from the year before to 203,925 units, while its domestic sales edged up by 3.2% to 89,379 units. Both production and sales in August marked the first year-on-year increase in three months, Toyota said. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. also said its domestic production and domestic sales jumped 9.4% and 19.1% in August from the previous year to 84,685 and 46,561 units, respectively. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. saw its domestic production flat at 96,038 units in August, but saw a 1.5% rise in domestic sales to 47,283 units, the company said. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. both reported decreases in their domestic production and sales. Mitsubishi reported its domestic production fell 15.0% in August from the year before to 64,375, and domestic sales declined 0.9% to 32,746. Mazda Motor Corp. said its domestic production declined 5.3% in August from a year earlier to 53,558 units and domestic sales fell 1.3% to 21,266.