Global Production Grows For Japan's Automakers in December 2003

TOKYO January 26, 2003; The AP reported that global production in December rose at Japan's top automakers, led by double-digit increases at Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., the companies said Monday. Output fell at Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, reported global production of 486,627 vehicles in December, up 13.6 percent from a year ago. Its domestic output rose 2.5 percent while overseas production jumped 32.0 percent. For 2003, Toyota produced 6.08 million vehicles, up 7.8 percent from the year before.

Nissan said its global output jumped 11.1 percent to 221,725 vehicles in December amid strong demand in North America, Europe and Asia.

Nissan's U.S. production surged 94.0 percent, thanks to brisk demand for Maxima and Altima sedans, the Quest minivan, Pathfinder Armada sport utility vehicles and the Titan pickup. For the entire year, global production at Nissan, the Japanese unit of Renault SA of France, climbed 9.8 percent to 2.96 million vehicles.

At Honda Motor Co., global production rose 9.4 percent to 239,599 vehicles in December. Domestic output shrank 11.2 percent, but overseas production surged 31.9 percent. Honda, Japan's second largest automaker, said its global production in 2003 rose 2.4 percent to 2.97 million vehicles.

At Hiroshima-based Mazda Motor Corp., overseas production in December totaled 88,051 vehicles, up 9.6 percent. Domestic production posted a 15 percent rise to 67,411 vehicles, while overseas output dropped 3.3 percent to 20,640.

For 2003, domestic production from Mazda -- 33 percent owned by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. -- picked up 3.6 percent to 801,084 vehicles. Overseas production surged 42.0 percent to 240,821 vehicles.

Global production at Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which is 37 percent owned by DaimlerChrysler AG of Germany, fell 9.6 percent to 118,641 vehicles in December. Production in Japan slipped 17.5 percent to 59,802 vehicles while overseas output edged up 0.2 percent to 58,839 vehicles. Mitsubishi's worldwide output last year slipped 5.7 percent to 1.58 million vehicles.