Japanese Automakers' March, Full-year Production Rises

(RTTNews) - Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, TYT.L), Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC), Nissan Motor Co Ltd. (NSANY.PK), and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMTOF.PK) reported Wednesday a strong growth in their global vehicle production for the month of March as well as for full year ended March 31, 2014.

For Toyota, worldwide production in March increased 4 percent year-over-year to 928,648 units, including those for subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and Hino Motors, Ltd. Total production in Japan, that includes kits for overseas assembly, rose 5 percent, and production outside Japan grew 3.3 percent.

Including overseas production, monthly sales in Japan was 322,252 units, a 13.4 percent increase from last year. Meanwhile, total exports dropped 9 percent, with a 9.4 percent decline in passenger cars and a 6.6 percent drop in trucks and buses.

In the month, worldwide production of Toyota brand increased 2 percent, while Daihatsu's production climbed 21.7 percent and that of Hino grew 7.5 percent.

For the fourth quarter, Toyota's total production increased 4.7 percent to 2.63 million units, with a 4.9 percent rise in production in Japan and a 4.6 percent increase in production outside Japan. Sales in Japan climbed 16.4 percent, while exports dropped 9.3 percent.

For Honda, total production for the month of March grew 12.4 percent from last year to 401,602 units. Production in Japan climbed 54.1 percent, and production outside Japan increased 3.7 percent. All regions posted higher monthly production.

Honda brand's sales in Japanese market in March increased 32.2 percent, while total exports from Japan plunged 84.2 percent.

For March, Mitsubishi's total vehicle production grew 19 percent year-over-year to 122,145 vehicles with a 47.7 percent jump in domestic production. Meanwhile, overseas production dropped 2 percent. The monthly domestic sales rose 8.6 percent with good growth in passenger cars partly offset by lower sales of commercial vehicles. Meanwhile, exports declined 0.9 percent.

For the fourth quarter, Mitsubishi's total production increased 9.9 percent to 329,163 units, boosted by higher domestic production, despite a decline in overseas production.

For Nissan, global production in March increased 10.4 percent year-on-year to 484,990 units. Production in Japan climbed 21.1 percent, and production outside of Japan increased 8.2 percent. Production in U.S. increased 27.1 percent, in Mexico climbed 32.2 percent, and U.K grew 21.8 percent.

Nissan's global sales in March increased 7.2 percent year-on-year to 584,912 units. Exports in March increased 12.7 percent, with 42.9 percent rise in North America.

For the full year, Toyota's total production rose 5.3 percent to 10.24 million units, with a 1.6 percent rise in production in Japan and an 8.2 percent increase in production outside Japan. Sales in Japan grew 3.9 percent, while exports dropped 3.4 percent. Worldwide sales increased 4.5 percent to 10.13 million units, and sales outside Japan grew 4.7 percent.

Honda's annual total production rose 8.5 percent to 4.40 million units, with a 6.9 percent increase in Japanese production and a 9 percent increase in production outside Japan.

For the year, Mitsubishi's total production increased 13.1 percent to 1.27 million units with increased domestic production.

Nissan's total production for the year increased 6 percent year-on-year to 5,078,081 units. Production in Japan declined 5.7 percent, while production outside of Japan increased 9.4 percent. Global sales increased 6.7 percent, while exports decreased 10.2 percent with a decline in North America.

In Japan, Toyota shares lost 0.16 percent on Wednesday, and closed at 5,549 yen. Honda gained 1.40 percent, and closed at 3,476 yen, and Mitsubishi Motors gained 2.97 percent, and closed at 1,111 yen.