A Japanese auto industry leader said Thursday he is ready to talk with his counterparts among the U.S. Big Three automakers, who have asked U.S. President George W. Bush to pressure Japan to refrain from talking down the yen.

"I would like to hold talks with the heads in the near future," said Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and chairman of Toyota Motor Corp.

Okuda said he disagrees with assertions made by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and DaimlerChrysler Corp. that a recent surge in Japanese exports is hurting U.S. industries.

"We are not using a weak yen to rapidly increase exports, and there is no negative effect on our partners," Okuda said.

Earlier this month, the chief executive officers of the Big Three automakers sent a letter to Bush, saying they were concerned about "the damage to U.S. manufacturing industries being caused by Japan's policy of pushing the weakening yen."

Okuda said he does not expect the matter to develop into trade friction between Japan and the United States.

"I don't think there will be scenes as in the past where we are locking horns with each other," he said, noting that many alliances have been struck between Japanese and U.S. automakers.

He criticized the U.S. automakers for failing to make sufficient efforts, pointing out that sales of European automobiles are brisk in Japan.

"If it is a good car, it will sell," he said. "They should become more conscious about making a car for export."

Mitsubishi to outsource

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Thursday it will begin to outsource production of auto parts at its Oe factory in Nagoya in May to companies affiliated with Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.

The company said the move to transfer its facilities and staff is part of its ongoing restructuring program aimed at improving efficiency.

Mitsubishi Motors has already transferred around 75 percent of the parts production facilities at the Oe plant to other companies, including those affiliated with Nissan Motor Co. Around 400 workers have been transferred from the plant to the companies.

The company said it hopes to complete the transfer by the end of fiscal 2002 and will consider selling the land.

Advics Co., a Toyota affiliate, will take over front-axle production, while Showa Corp., a Honda affiliate, will undertake propeller-shaft production.

The facilities are worth roughly 500 million yen, it said.

Around 50 workers from the factory will be transferred to Advics and Showa, the company said.