Japan’s five top automakers made substantial worldwide output cuts in April amid the global recession, with their respective margins of year-on-year cut ranging from 29.7% to 54.3%, according to data released on Thursday.


Mitsubishi made the largest cut of 54.3% to 46,289 units, while Honda carried out the smallest cut of 29.7% to 231,399 units, Kyodo News reported.


Toyota’s worldwide output declined 49.6% to 366,125 units, Nissan’s fell 38.2% to 183,248 units, and Mazda’s was down 43.8% to 63,307 units.


Faltering private consumption in overseas markets also dented exports with the margins of fall ranging from 53.1% at Mazda to 76.4% at Mitsubishi.


Mazda’s exports came to 39,670 units, while Mitsubishi’s came to 9,436 units.

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Toyota’s exports plunged 70.9% to 69,194 units, Nissan’s dropped 54.3% to 30,670 units, and Honda’s dived 70.4% to 16,418 units.


On the domestic front, Honda’s sales rose 1.8% to 46,060 units, marking the first gain in six months, although the other four automakers saw sharp drops.


Honda’s ultra-fuel-efficient Insight hybrid sedan, which made its showroom debut on 6 February, drew strong buying interest among consumers. The Insight saw sales of 10,481 units in April, clinching the top slot on the nation’s top-10 sales ranking list from Honda’s own Fit [Jazz] compact car.


Toyota’s domestic sales fell 32.3% to 77,634 units, Nissan’s dropped 38.7% to 21,165 units, Mitsubishi’s declined 26.6% to 8,603 units, and Mazda’s were down 33.0% to 10,826 units.