Japan's auto exports rise 16.7% in Dec. on year, leap 33.8% in 2010

Japan's exports of automobiles rose 16.7 percent from a year earlier in December, marking the 12th successive month of increase, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a report on Monday.

According to the industry body, a total of 467,590 were exported in the recording period, rising from 400,827 vehicles shipped in November on year.

The association noted that for the whole of 2010, exports of automobiles from Japan climbed to 4.84 million vehicles -- a jump of 33.8 percent. The figure marks the first all-year increase for two years as delivers to all regions increased, particularly to the US and Asian countries.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association however also said Monday that vehicle production in the month of December slumped 5.1 percent from a year earlier to 747,947 units, marking the third straight monthly decline.

Manufacturing of passenger cars retreated 6.1 percent to 645,031 vehicles, for the third straight month of decline and production of trucks slipped 0.5 percent to 92,740 vehicles, marking the first fall in 13 months, the association said.

Bus production, meanwhile, soared 28.0 percent to 10,176 units in the recording period, to book the third straight month of growth.

For the whole of 2010, vehicle production climbed 21.3 percent to 9.63 million units, marking the first rise in three years, helped by new vehicle sales rising 10.6 percent to 3.23 million units in 2010, which was the first rise in seven years.

Government subsidies for purchases of eco-friendly cars were cited by the association as helping to boost new vehicle sales last year.

However, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association reported Monday that new vehicle sales in Japan fell 28.3 percent from a year earlier to 179,666 units in the month of December, marking the fourth straight year-on-year fall after retreating 30.7 percent in the previous month.