The slump in Japan’s global auto production eased last month as a record month in China for Toyota, Honda and Nissan offset dire market conditions elsewhere.
Toyota Motor Corp, the world’s top automaker, partly credited a boost in production in Asia for its first year-on-year overseas production rise in 13 months last month. Production of 309,589 vehicles was up 4.7 percent from the same month the previous year.
Toyota’s global production remained sluggish at 508,673 vehicles, down 8.7 percent from a year earlier.
Toyota’s China production was a record high last month at 58,592 vehicles, up 53.4 percent from the same month the previous year.
Honda Motor Co also racked up record production in China, although its worldwide production fell year-on-year for the 10th straight month.
Nissan Motor Co, allied with Renault SA of France, was another automaker with record production in China at 44,441 vehicles last month, surging 60.1 percent.
Nissan’s global production sank 13.7 percent from a year earlier to 217,954 vehicles.
Mazda Motor Corp produced 84,823 vehicles around the world last month, down 12.8 percent from the same month last year.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp produced 62,924 vehicles globally last month, down 32.1 percent.
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