Japanese Auto Makers Report First-Half Production Results

Japanese auto makers Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. report their production results for the year’s first half.

Nissan, despite seeing its domestic production plummet 20.9% to 631,714 units vs. year-ago, built its 100 millionth vehicle at the end of June.The auto maker was established in 1933.

From January-June, Mitsubishi says it produced 668,474 units globally, operating at 101.3% of year earlier levels. Japanese production accounted for 373,385 units, an increase of 22.2%.

While Mitsubishi’s European production rose, 117.8% of last year’s level of 44,486, Asian output slipped to 188,393 units, or 73.8% of year-ago levels. The auto maker blames the drop on “weak economic conditions” in Indonesia and Taiwan.

Mitsubishi’s North American output increased 6.9% from like-2005 to 42,333 units.

The company’s European exports increased 24.5% to 66,986 units, but North American exports slipped, as did Asian exports, to 97.3% and 91.8% of year-ago levels, respectively.

Honda says it set a 10th consecutive overseas production record in the first half, with output rising 8.5% from year-ago levels.

However, Honda’s domestic production dipped for the first time since 2003, down 0.8% from first-half 2005, which it blames on a drop in the manufacture of domestic models.

Honda’s total worldwide output rose 5.0% for the first six months vs. year-ago, setting an eighth consecutive record for the auto maker.

Honda also says it set 6-month production records in North America, the U.S., Europe, Asia, and China.

The auto maker says it exported 11.3% more vehicles in the first six months compared with year-ago, largely due to increased shipments to North America.

Toyota Motor Corp. reportedly saw its domestic production increase 8.1% to 2.11 million units through June.

Suzuki Motor Corp. reportedly also saw a gain in domestic builds, up 12.4% to 610,195 units in the first six months of 2006.