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Japanese Auto Production Up in 1st Half of 2000

27 July 2000

    Tokyo - The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association announced
yesterday that automobile production for the first half of 2000 increased
by 4.8% compared to the same term last year, and the number exceeded 5
million for the first time in two years. 

    In addition, production of standard and mini passenger vehicles reached the
highest ever due to the increasing demand in Japan and growing exports.
According to JAMA, the annual production is expected to reach 10 million.
For domestic sales, especially new mini van type vehicles sold well in
Japan and overseas while sales of trucks, especially light trucks, dropped
for two consecutive years.  Standard passenger car sales grew by 6 percent
due to the strong sales of minivans such as the new Odyssey and Estima and
growing exports to North America.  Mini passenger car sales reached the
highest level of 668,417 vehicles because many users of commercial cab vans
changed their vehicles to the passenger type.


MJR