Auto production skidded 5.1 percent in November from a year earlier to 820,841 vehicles, falling for the third consecutive month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.

Automobile output in the January-November period came to 9.05 million vehicles, down 3.1 percent from the same period last year, the association said.

The figure is likely to keep annual production for 2001 below the 10.14 million vehicles registered in 2000.

Car output in November dropped 3.3 percent to 690,415, and truck output fell 14.3 percent to 125,778, down for the third consecutive month.

Bus output increased 10.9 percent to 4,648, up for the eighth month running.

Output of cars with engines larger than 2,000cc fell 1.5 percent to 297,594, while output of cars with engines of 661cc to 2,000cc declined 13.3 percent to 271,902. Production of minivehicles -- those with engines up to 661cc -- rose 23 percent to 120,919.

In November, only four of Japan's 11 automakers reported a rise in production.

Toyota Motor Corp. maintained the top spot with 282,491 vehicles produced, down 9.3 percent from a year earlier. Honda Motor Co., whose Fit subcompact passenger car has become a big hit, rose to second place with an output of 114,373 vehicles, up 4.6 percent.

Nissan Motor Co. fell to third place with output at 114,129, up 7.8 percent.

Suzuki Motor Corp. ranked fourth with output of 73,144 vehicles, up 6.3 percent. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. was fifth with 71,408, down 15.8 percent. Mazda Motor Corp., an affiliate of Ford Motor Co., was in sixth place with output of 50,612, down 14.5 percent.

Auto exports dip 2.5%

Motor vehicle exports slipped 2.5 percent in November from a year earlier to 362,238 units, marking a turnaround from October's 4.4 percent rise, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.

Car exports totaled 312,986 units, down 0.7 percent, truck exports were at 45,836, down 12.5 percent, and bus exports hit 3,416, down 14.1 percent, the association said.

On a value basis, automobile exports, including shipped auto parts, dropped 3.5 percent to $7.04 billion, it said.

Exports to North America soared 12.1 percent to 165,274 units, with exports to the United States accounting for more than 90 percent of the total at 149,150.

Exports to Europe fell 12.1 percent to 79,575 units, with European Union nations accounting for 70,952, or 89 percent of the total.

Exports to the Asian market slumped 39.6 percent to 21,312 units.

Among Japan's 11 major automakers, Toyota Motor Corp. remained the top exporter with shipments of 153,951 units, up 1.8 percent, followed by Nissan Motor Co., whose shipments rose 19.3 percent to 58,067.

Honda Motor Co. shipped 36,035 units, down 17.3 percent, while Mazda Motor Corp. shipped 34,347, up 24.8 percent, the association said.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. was in fifth place with exports of 29,064 units, down a steep 34.7 percent.