Japanese car makers drive up July output

• Source: Shanghai Daily
• [08:44 August 30 2010]
• Comments

Japanese auto makers posted solid growth in global car production last month with Nissan Motor Co producing and selling a record number of vehicles for any July.

Nissan, which is allied with Renault SA of France, said it made 330,401 vehicles, up 17.9 percent from a year earlier. The growth, however, is weaker than a 38.8 percent jump in June.

Its worldwide sales rose 12.6 percent to 350,470. The maker of the Altima sedan and Rogue crossover SUV credited healthy demand in the US, China and elsewhere in Asia.

Toyota Motor Corp, the world's biggest auto maker, said in its monthly report that global production climbed 10 percent on an annual basis to 633,197 units.

The result marks the 12th straight month of increase, but is slightly weaker than June results.

Toyota's exports expanded 11 percent on brisk demand in the US and Asia.

Honda Motor Co reported accelerating growth in July with a 21.6 percent increase to 314,911 vehicles, compared with 17.7 percent growth in June. The company said its production in China and Asia reached an all-time high for any month.

Exports jumped almost 36 percent to 27,142 vehicles.

Mazda Motor Corp's July global production rose 12.7 percent from the previous year to 118,822 vehicles. In particular, the company sharply boosted output of the Mazda2 and Mazda3.

Mazda's exports, however, fell 7.8 percent due to lower demand in Europe and Oceania.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp reported a 61.9 percent surge in global production to 102,870 vehicles.

Exports in July more than doubled to 39,355 vehicles.