The top three Japanese automakers continued to increase overseas production in July amid the yen's appreciation and lingering concern about domestic power shortages, setting new output highs for the month, according to data released by the three Wednesday.
Toyota Motor Corp. produced 423,587 vehicles at overseas plants in July, up 27.5 percent from a year earlier, boosting output in all regions.
Nissan Motor Co. expanded overseas production by 10.2 percent to 305,202 vehicles, while Honda Motor Co. logged an 88.9 percent rise to 256,770.
Domestic production expanded 30.1 percent to 341,200 vehicles at Toyota and by 24.9 percent to 88,410 at Honda. But Nissan rolled out 7.8 percent fewer vehicles, or 103,107, at its domestic plants.
The three automakers posted double-digit gains in domestic sales — 65.8 percent to 176,468 units by Toyota, 14.6 percent to 59,936 by Nissan and 67.6 percent to 74,606 by Honda.
Exports increased 16.9 percent to 172,018 vehicles at Toyota, but Nissan and Honda reported respective declines of 10.3 and 30.5 percent to 62,073 and 15,237 vehicles.
China OKs Mazda plan
Mazda Motor Corp. has obtained Chinese authorities' approval for the planned realignment of its joint business with China's Changan Automobile Co. and U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co., Mazda officials said.
Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., a joint venture between the three automakers, will be liquidated, and Mazda will later set up a new joint company with Changan Automobile.
Mazda has a stake of only 15 percent in the three-way joint venture, and this has restricted the company's business flexibility in the Chinese market.