Japan's Three Top Automakers Boost Output; Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors Cut Production

TOKYO February 24, 2005; The AP reported that Japan's top three automakers -- Toyota, Nissan and Honda -- boosted global output in January due to strong sales in overseas and domestic markets, but Mazda and Mitsubishi Motors trimmed production, the companies said Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp., the country's largest automaker, said global production rose 4.9 percent in January from the same month last year to 555,319 vehicles. That includes a 9.5 percent increase in overseas output to 257,110 vehicles, a record-high for January.

It was the 37th straight month of gains in overseas output for Toyota, prompted mainly by increased production in North America and Asia. Toyota's production in Japan inched up on-year 1.2 percent to 298,209 vehicles during the month.

Nissan Motor Co., the Tokyo-based partner of France's Renault SA, said its worldwide production surged 17.2 percent to 292,254 vehicles last month, with its U.S. output registering a 30.3 percent leap over a year earlier to 73,441 vehicles.

Among the most popular American-made models were the Altima sedan, the new Frontier and the Pathfinder sport-utility vehicles. Nissan's domestic production rose 20 percent to 136,276 vehicles, lifted by brisk sales of new models.

At Honda Motor Co., worldwide production rose 12.3 percent to 270,438 vehicles in January -- a record high for a single month. Honda's overseas production rose 9.6 percent to 164,409 vehicles, marking the 12th consecutive month of increases.

Honda's production in Asia, excluding Japan, saw a 32.2 percent surge in production in January. Domestic output climbed 16.6 percent to 106,029 vehicles, while Honda's production in the United States gained 10.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Mazda Motor Corp. said global production fell 18.2 percent to 73,936 vehicles. Domestic production for the Hiroshima-based manufacturer was down 19.2 percent to 53,286 vehicles. Mazda's overseas production also fell 15.5 percent to 20,650 vehicles.

Yuji Kato, a Mazda spokesman, said the production loss from a Dec. 15 fire at a plant in western Japan continued to hurt parts supplies, forcing a curb in production. Mazda, 33.4 percent owned by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co., the plant has been mostly repaired and will be back in full production by April.

Global output at Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which is trying to rebuild its business after a string of recall problems, dropped 11 percent as demand in Japan and North America remained weak. Overseas production fell 5.2 percent to 51,629 vehicles.

Production in the United States saw a 54.4 percent drop to 5,670 vehicles; Mitsubishi Motors' domestic output sank 16.2 percent to 50,308 vehicles.