Japanese Carmakers Boost Domestic Output 18%

Japan's eight automakers produced 9.43 million vehicles in the country in 2012 compared with 7.97 million units the previous year.

Domestic output had been sharply reduced in 2011 by Japan's earthquake and tsunami. Last year's production gainers included Toyota (+27% to 3.49 million vehicles), Nissan (+3% to 1.14 million units) and Honda (+45% to 1.02 million units).

Japan's carmakers hiked overseas output 19% to 15.24 million units last year, including increases at Toyota (+26% to 5.24 million vehicles), Nissan (+6% to 3.74 million units) and Honda (+40% to 3.08 million units).

In December, vehicle production in Japan dropped 18% to 661,500 units, marking the fourth month of year-over-year declines. The slump mirrored the slide in domestic sales after government incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars expired in September.