Combined domestic production by eight major Japanese automakers in September rose 12.8% year on year to 827,139 units, up for the first time in 13 months.
Domestic vehicle sales turned upward after falls stemming from the end in September last year of a government subsidy programme for eco-friendly vehicles, Jiji Press reported.
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The rise also reflected a pickup in exports to the United States thanks to a recovery of the US economy.
The automakers’ overseas production in the April-September first half of fiscal 2013 grew 4% to 8,015,042 units, up for the second straight year, thanks to launches of new models in emerging economies.
Overseas output hit record H1 highs at Toyota, Nissan Motor, Honda, Suzuki and Daihatsu .
But there were concerns about production slowdowns in some emerging economies. Mitsubishi saw its April-September output in Thailand fall year on year.
In September alone, all of the eight makers logged domestic vehicle sales growth, with combined domestic sales rising 16.8%, led by popular new minivehicles and hybrid models. Exports increased 10.8%.
Sales of luxury vehicles made in Japan are growing in the US, a Nissan official said.
