Auto Production Rises in Japan

TOKYO AP reports that auto production in Japan rose in January at Toyota Motor Corp. [NYSE:TM - news], Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., but declined at Nissan Motor Co., the Japanese automakers said Monday.

Toyota said domestic production was up 5.7 percent at 273,420 in January, and worldwide production also rose 4.6 percent at 426,277. Sales in Japan slid 4.6 percent to 105,528, but exports increased 16.3 percent to 129,529 vehicles, mainly on robust demand in North America and Europe.

Honda's car production in Japan soared 12.1 percent in January, riding on the big success of its Step WGN minivan and Fit compact here. Domestic passenger car production grew to 99,458 vehicles compared to a year ago, while domestic sales grew 14.7 percent to 51,502, Honda said.

Honda's exports climbed 20.7 percent to 35,838 on strong shipments to North America and Europe.

But Nissan's domestic production last month edged down 0.7 percent from a year ago to 95,403 in January as production for the March subcompact fell in anticipation of a remodeled version going on sale this week The automaker, which is allied with Renault SA of France, said its global production inched down 0.6 percent to 203,760 vehicles.

At Mitsubishi Motors, domestic production rose 7.4 percent in January to 68,235 vehicles. Sales in Japan fell 11.1 percent to 28,128 vehicles. Exports also dipped 10.3 percent to 28,744. Mitsubishi Motors is partly owned by DaimlerChrysler.

Mazda, which is 33.4 percent owned by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. [NYSE:F - news], saw domestic production rise 3.4 percent to 59,537 vehicles, although sales in Japan dropped 14.1 percent to 20,452 vehicles.