Japan’s Auto Output Rises 5%

Automakers produced 736,000 cars, trucks and buses in Japan in August compared with 704,100 units a year earlier, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn.

Japan's passenger-car output increased 5% year over year to 634,800 units in August. Production of standard-size cars declined 4% to 339,500 units. But output of small cars and minicars (powered by engines that displace 660 cc or less) grew 13% to 179,800 units and 29% to 115,500 units, respectively.

Domestic truck production advanced 3% to 92,200 units. Bus output dropped 8% to 9,000 units.

Toyota, Nissan and Mazda roughly doubled domestic output to 262,200 vehicles, 88,100 units and 66,500 units, respectively. Also boosting sales were Suzuki (+93% to 80,100 vehicles) and Honda (+ 123% to 69,500 vehicles).

Domestic passenger-car sales jumped 16% to 315,800 units.

But vehicle exports from Japan fell 5% to 344,000 units in August, ending seven consecutive months of year-over-year gains. Shipments were lower to every region except Africa and Oceania.

The sharpest declines were in exports to the Europe Union (-30% to 26,800 units) and Latin America (-22% to 25,500 units). Shipments to the U.S. dropped 6% to 118,100 vehicles.