Japanese carmakers’ global production rises 14% in October
Major Japanese automakers’ combined global output grew 14.4% to 2.11 million units in October from a year earlier as parts shortages prompted by the coronavirus pandemic receded, their data showed yesterday.
Six of the eight automakers, or all but Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corp, reported increases in output, although it remains unclear whether they can sustain the uptrend amid a continued shortage of semiconductors and China’s Covid-19 lockdowns.
Toyota Motor Corp said its global output grew 23.0% to 771,382 vehicles and its global sales climbed 22.8% to 832,373 units in October, both eclipsing the previous year’s figures.
Honda Motor Co saw its October output rise 1.1% to 330,002 units, marking a fifth consecutive month of increase. Suzuki Motor Corp advanced 14.1% to 267,337 vehicles on the back of growth in its Indian production.
Subaru Corp’s output soared 43.1% in the month to 88,457 units.
The company said the impact of the shortage of parts using computer chips remains, but it has become smaller compared with the previous year.
Nissan’s output was down 2.4% to 297,801 vehicles, falling below the previous year’s output for the first time in four months.
Mitsubishi, whose output in Asia declined, said its global output in October also dropped 17.6% to 86,533.
The combined domestic output of the eight automakers climbed 36.1% to 655,459 units, while Honda and Mitsubishi reported a decline year-on-year.
Toyota’s domestic output expanded 33.7% from a year earlier to 203,149 vehicles, while its overseas output rose 19.5% to 568,233 units, with Chinese production increasing 18.4% and North American production growing 16.2%.
Its domestic sales, including those of minivehicles, soared 34.3% to 113,723 units, and overseas sales rose 21.2% to 718,650 vehicles, with North American sales jumping 26.8%.
The figures for overseas production and sales were both at record highs for October.