Total Japanese output at the eight major automakers last plunged 60.1% year on year as the 11 March earthquake/tsunami forced them to suspend production.
Toyota domestic output plunged 78.4% to 53,823 units, the lowest monthly figure since comparable data began to be compiled in 1976, Kyodo News reported. The year on year drop was the sharpest since then.
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Combined domestic production, totaling 279,345 units, was the second consecutive monthly fall after 57.5% in March.
Suzuki replaced Toyota as Japan’s largest vehicle producer in April, building 58,398 units, down 31.1%.
Domestic output also plunged 81.0% at Honda, 62.6% at Daihatsu, 49.7% at Mazda, 48.7% at Nissan Motor, 37.6% for Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) and 31.7% at Mitsubishi Motors.
Total overseas output by the eight fell 19.7% to 842,045 units. Overseas production fell 43.5% at Honda, 32.5% at Fuji, and 25.5% at Toyota.
Suzuki expanded overseas production 12.2% and Mazda and Mitsubishi also saw boosts.
The eight automakers’ total domestic sales in April fell 49.7% to 168,775 units. Toyota reported a decline of 68% to 37,332 units, the sharpest drop among the eight.
Domestic sales fell 46.3% at Honda, 44.6% for Daihatsu, 42.7% for Suzuki, 37.5% for Nissan, 33.1% for Mazda, 18.9% for Mitsubishi and 17.9% for Fuji.
Production declines led to an export drop of 67.9% to 118,524 units. Shipments decreased 79.3% to 31,025 units for Toyota, 76.2% to 6,473 units for Honda, 72.6% to 984 units for Daihatsu and 72.0% to 14,642 units for Nissan.
