Vehicle Output in Japan Climbs 17%

Automakers produced 922,700 cars, trucks and buses in Japan in July compared with 790,300 vehicles a year earlier, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. reports.

Japan's total passenger car output jumped 19% to 799,300 vehicles in July. Domestic production of minicars, which are powered by engines displacing 660 cc or less, soared 52% to 152,100 units. Production of larger passenger cars increased 14% to 647,200 units.

Domestic truck output rose 3% to 113,400 units. Bus production dropped 12% to 10,100 units.

Toyota built 341,200 passenger and commercial vehicles in Japan, up 30% from July 2011. Toyota's total excludes its Daihatsu and Hino subsidiaries, which posted gains of 49% to 79,000 vehicles and 24% to 13,600 units, respectively.

Domestic output fell 8% to 103,100 units at Nissan and jumped 25% to 88,400 units at Honda.