TOKYO — Four of Japan's eight major automakers reported record global output in 2007, industry data showed Monday. Among them, Toyota Motor Corp saw its global production increase 5.5% from the previous year to 8.53 million units. The other three record-breakers were Honda Motor Co, Suzuki Motor Corp and Daihatsu Motor Co.
Their strong performances were due chiefly to brisk overseas sales of the energy-efficient compact vehicles that are the strength of Japanese makers, amid highflying gasoline prices worldwide.
In addition to the four, global production grew at Nissan Motor Co, which marked its second-highest output on record, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. The six makers also posted rises in their overseas output.
Meanwhile, Mazda Motor Corp and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd reported falls in their global production.
Sales in Japan dropped at the seven firms other than Daihatsu, reflecting falling interest in car ownership among young people and the aging of the country's population. Notably, Mitsubishi and Honda suffered double-digit declines in their domestic sales, dragged down by slack demand for their minivehicles.
Meanwhile, exports increased at all eight automakers.
Exports at Suzuki rewrote their record high for the first time in 21 years, as its overseas production failed to keep up with strong demand. The company's domestic sales, however, fell for the second straight year, following its decision to reduce the production of minivehicles for sale in the Japanese market in order to give priority to vehicles for exports.
In December alone, domestic sales were generally slow, but exports and overseas production increased from the year before at the seven makers other than Fuji Heavy.
