Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda Boosted Auto Production in March

TOKYO April 27, 2005; The AP reported that four major Japanese automakers on Wednesday reported increased global production in March from growing demand, but only Mitsubishi Motors Corp. suffered a drop in last year's output.

Toyota Motor Corp., the nation's top automaker, boosted its worldwide production 10.1 percent on year to 692,678 vehicles, the company said.

Its domestic production rose 9.2 percent on year to 386,677 vehicles in March -- the third straight month of increases.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, Toyota's global production totaled 6.876 million vehicles, up 9.2 percent from the previous fiscal year.

Nissan Motor Co., which is 44.3 percent owned by France's Renault SA, rolled out 345,452 vehicles in March, up 14.3 percent on year. Japanese production climbed 7.0 percent to 155,381.

Nissan's global production for the fiscal year rose 8.2 percent to an all-time fiscal year record of 3.313 million vehicles, surpassing the 3 million mark for the two straight year.

At Honda Motor Co., global production in March totaled 320,508 vehicles, up 6.1 percent on year. Production in Japan rose 2.4 percent for the month to 127,604 vehicles.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, Honda's global production climbed 8.9 percent to 3.257 million vehicles.

Global production for Mazda Motor Corp., 33.3 percent owned by Ford Motor Co. of the United States, inched up 2.6 percent to 103,380 vehicles in March. Its domestic output totaled 82,195 vehicles, up 10.2 percent, while its overseas production fell 19.1 percent to 21,185 vehicles.

Scandal-tainted Mitsubishi Motors said its global production last month dropped 11.4 percent to 130,602 vehicles for the 11th straight month of declines as its domestic sales and exports fell. The company's exports dropped 19.7 percent to 27,432 vehicles, while its overseas production edged up 1.6 percent to 69,889 vehicles.

DaimlerChrysler, a German-U.S. automaker, holds 18.8 percent in the Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Motors, which is trying to rebuild its business after a string of recall scandals.