FOCUS-Japan car output shows signs of stabilising
TOKYO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Automobile output at most
of Japan's big carmakers stabilised in September after
sliding steadily in recent months, although exports and
domestic sales continued to decline, company data
showed on Wednesday.
Totals for the first half of the fiscal year from April 1,
however, painted a picture of falling output as domestic
demand steadily declined and exports turned sluggish.
All five carmakers recorded a drop in domestic output,
sales and exports for the April-September period,
although the recent introduction of several new models
was beginning to give a lift to sales and output levels,
spokesmen for the companies said. Domestic output at
industry leader Toyota Motor Corp [7203.T] dipped
slightly in September by 0.9 percent, stabilising after a 7.3
percent drop in August and a 10.6 percent slide for the
first fiscal half-year.
The company said its overseas output continued to rise in
September, up 20.3 percent from year-ago levels, as it
boosted production in North America and Britain.
Nissan Motor Co [7201.T], Japan's number-two
carmaker, posted its first monthly domestic production
increase in nearly a year, eking out a 0.8 percent gain in
September from year-ago levels with help from recently
launched models, a spokesman said.
Nissan's exports rose 13.5 percent, reflecting continued
brisk exports to Europe, he added. The increase followed
a 7.7 percent export drop in August.
Mazda Motor Corp [7261.T], the smallest of the Big
Five, continued its relatively strong performance of recent
months, racking up the largest production gain in
September with 1.8 percent growth while domestic sales,
although down 2.2 percent, fell by a smaller margin than
those of its bigger rivals.
Half-year figures also showed Mazda with the smallest
declines of the five carmakers in domestic sales, output
and exports, boosting its domestic market share in the
period to 5.8 percent versus 5.4 percent a year earlier.
Mazda's sales were lifted by several popular models,
including the recently remodeled Familia compact sedan
and wagon and the Demio compact multi-purpose
wagon, which remains one of Japan's top-selling models
more than two years after its launch.
Mazda, like Nissan, also defied the downtrend in exports
at the other big automakers, scoring a 3.1 percent rise in
September from year-ago levels with the aid of brisk
sales in Europe.
Honda Motor Co [7267.T] said its domestic output fell
8.3 percent in September, reflecting sluggish domestic
sales and a slump in exports to Asia's troubled
economies, while overseas output rose 11.5 percent.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp [7211.T] reported a hefty 19.6
percent drop in output in September, while exports and
overseas production fell by more than 30 percent as the
company trimmed inventories, a spokesman said.
Domestic output levels at Mitsubishi and Honda, both
major manufacturers of minivehicles, are expected to
receive a lift in October from the launch early in the month
of a slew of new minicar models to meet stricter safety
standards.
((Edmund Klamann, Tokyo Equities Desk +81-3 3432
9052
edmund.klamann@reuters.com))
REUTERS Rtr 10:06 10-21-98 |
