Three of Japan's five major automakers reported declines in exports last month of between 30 percent and 50 percent from a year earlier, partly due to their move to increase overseas production, according to data released Friday.
Exports plunged 50.5 percent at Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to 16,602 units. In addition to increased output at its overseas plants, the automaker reduced shipments to the North American and European markets to adjust inventories ahead of the planned remodeling of some vehicles.
Exports at Nissan Motor Co. fell by 29.7 percent to 33,608 units, marking its second consecutive monthly fall mainly because it increased overseas output to meet market demand there and to adjust for foreign exchange trends, it said.