Domestic production of cars, trucks and buses in the January-June period plunged 45.2 percent from a year earlier and its exports plummeted 59.1 percent, both marking the first fall in eight years for a first half year, an industry body said Thursday.
Domestic vehicle output totaled 3,321,651 units, down from 6,059,185 units in the same period last year, while exports came to 1,433,488 units, down from 3,505,805 units a year before, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.
By vehicle type, car production dived 45.3 percent to 2,850,246 units, while truck and bus production dropped 44.3 percent and 47.2 percent, respectively, to 434,228 units and 37,177 units.
Exports of cars fell 59.0 percent to 1,273,362 units, with those of trucks and buses falling 62.7 percent to 121,813 units and 49.7 percent to 38,313 units.