Japanese Automakers’ Output Hits 6-Year High in 2014

TOKYO – Vehicle production in Japan grew to a 6-year high, both in units and value, in calendar 2014, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says.

Production grew 1.5% to 9,774,665 units and value rose 6.9% to ¥19.2 trillion ($154.5 billion), according to the 2015 edition of the Tokyo-based trade association’s Motor Industry of Japan data book.

The totals are still well below the peaks of 13,486,797 units in 1990 and ¥21.1 trillion ($170.1 billion) in 2007.

The value of exports of both vehicles and components rose 3.6% to ¥14.4 trillion ($116.1 billion), while imports rose to a record ¥2.0 trillion ($15.9 billion), 10.8% over the previous year.

On a unit basis, exports fell 4.5% to 4,465,624 including 3,835,595 cars, 488,473 trucks and 141,556 buses, JAMA says.

By market, Japanese automakers exported 1,662,160 units to North America including 1,537,676 to the U.S.; 744,138 to Europe with 452,322 shipped to the European Union; 625,708 to the Middle East; 560,304 to Asia; 375,672 to Oceania; 306,117 to Latin America; and 183,860 to Africa.

Exports to Europe and the Middle East grew 4.9% and 7.9%, respectively. Exports to Asia increased 3.7% and to Africa, 2.5%. Down from the previous year were exports to North America and Oceania, 11.9% and 7.8%, respectively, while exports to Latin America fell 15.4%.

Outside Japan, the country’s automakers produced 17,476,219 vehicles in 2014, up 4.3% from the prior year. The companies’ share of overseas production was 64.1%, up from 49.1% in 2004.

By market, Japanese automakers produced 9,112,629 units in Asia, including China; 4,785,769 in North America; 1,654,217 in Europe; 1,591,042 in Latin America; 241,841 in Africa; 90,125 in Oceania; and 596 in the Middle East.

The JAMA report says member automakers sold 965,008 hybrids (including 14,714 plug-in types) in 2014, down from 1,028,328 in 2013. The association reports 15,471 EV sales during the year, virtually unchanged from 2013, and 100,070 clean diesels, up 27.7%.