Japan's '95 car production down for fifth year

01/29/96

Last week the nikkei reported that Japan's car production for 1995 is down for the fifth straight year, declining 3.4% from 1994. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association announced that if the five year trend continues, 1996 production is liable to sink below 10 million units. 1995 production clocked in at 10.19 million vehicles. Japanese automotive production has decreased almost 25% since 1990.

Domestic automobile sales rose in Japan last year; more imports and fewer exports accounted for the total decrease in production. Statistics on sales by car types reveal that passenger car production is down 1.1% (the first decline in 11 years), and that subcompact production fell 6.2%. Mini-car production rose 13.6% to hit a second consecutive annual record. Truck production fell 6.1% to 2.53 million units.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel