Output by major Japanese carmakers in China plunged 86.7 percent in February from a year earlier to 29,911 units due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to data released by the companies.
The automakers temporarily closed plants in China due to the spread of the virus as workers were forced to stay home, while supply chains were also disrupted.
They are expected to see a further decrease in global production in the coming months as their plants in the United States and Europe have already closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has sharply slowed global demand.