Global Production Rises at Four Japanese Automakers in September; Records at Toyota, Nissan

TOKYO October 24, 2003; The AP reported that global production in September rose at four of Japan's top automakers, with Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. hitting a new monthly highs in overseas production, the companies said Friday. Production fell at Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Toyota, the nation's top automaker, said its worldwide production increased by 8.8 percent to 538,541 vehicles. Production in Japan was up 0.4 percent and overseas output jumped by 22.0 percent to 234,015, lifted by a rise in almost all regions.

Toyota said it was its highest monthly overseas production ever. Toyota's previous highest monthly production was in June, when overseas output totaled 227,136 vehicles.

Company spokeswoman Keiko Sato said production rose in almost all regions, including the United States, Canada, Britain and France, and sales were brisk in models such as the Vios, produced in Thailand and Taiwan.

Nissan, the Tokyo-based partner of France's Renault SA, reported that global production rose 15.5 percent to 282,822 vehicles in September. Production in Japan saw an 8.1 percent increase, while overseas output surged 23.8 percent to 142,917 vehicles -- its highest ever for a single month, surpassing the previous monthly record of 128,905 vehicles set in October 1999. In the United States, Nissan hit a monthly record with 54,684 vehicles, up 55.7 percent from a year ago, with cars produced there including the new Quest and Maxima models.

Toyota, Nissan and two other automakers that also reported increased production attributed the better performance to continued strong demand in the United States, Europe and Asia.

At Honda Motor Co., global production was up 3.4 percent to 262,824 vehicles in September. A 19.7 percent increase in overseas production offset a 14.1 percent domestic output drop.

Global production at Mazda Motor Corp., which is 33.4 percent owned by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co., rose 7.2 percent to 98,156 vehicles. Overseas production rose 26.5 percent, while domestic output grew by 2.9 percent.

At Mitsubishi Motors, global production fell 8.7 percent to 142,385 vehicles. Production in Japan inched up 4.7 percent, but overseas production dropped 20.5 percent. The Tokyo-based automaker is 37 percent owned by DaimlerChrysler AG of Germany.