Honda Motor reported a downturn in its automobile production in August 2025, with Japan seeing a drop to 44,586 units, a decrease to 88.4% year-on-year (YoY).
It represents the first YoY decline in three months.
Honda's total production in Japan from January to August 2025 was 438,531 units, which is 98.5% of the production during the corresponding period in 2024.
Production outside Japan also fell to 222,419 units in August 2025, which is 86.7% of the 256,602 units produced in the same month of the previous year.
It marked the thirteenth consecutive month of YoY declines.
The year-to-date figure for production outside Japan was 1.84 million units, which is 90.2% of the production in the same period the previous year.
Globally, Honda's production for August 2025 totalled 267,005 units, 87% of the production in August 2024, continuing a 13-month streak of YoY decreases.
The worldwide production from January to August 2025 was 2.28 million units, or 91.7% of the production in the same period in 2024.
In terms of regional production, North America reported 136,559 units in August 2025, which is 94.9% of the units produced in the same month of 2024.
The US accounted for 88,056 of these units, reflecting a YoY decrease to 93.9%. In Asia, production was at 76,887 units, a significant drop to 74.3% YoY, with China contributing 50,011 units at 80.5% YoY.
In contrast to the production figures, exports from Japan showed a positive trend with a significant increase.
In August 2025, Honda exported 7,307 units, a 126.9% increase from the 5,756 units in August 2024. This marks the fifth consecutive month of YoY increase in exports.
North America received 2,037 units, a rise of 270.2% YoY, with the US alone importing 1,727 units, up by 236.6%.
Exports to Asia were slightly down with 277 units, and Europe saw a near-stable figure with 2,551 units exported.
Other regions experienced an increase in exports, receiving 2,442 units, up by 115.5% YoY.
Despite the rise in exports, the domestic market in Japan contracted, with new vehicle sales dropping to 301,221 units in August 2025, an 8% decrease from the 328,471 units sold in the same month of the previous year, as reported by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).