TOKYO - TOYOTA Motor Corp, the world's No. 1 automaker, reported on Friday that its global production in November fell for the third straight month, even as Japanese rivals Nissan and Honda expanded output.
Toyota, whose reputation took a hit this year from massive recalls, said its worldwide production fell 8.7 per cent from a year earlier to 656,924 vehicles. Production outside Japan rose 0.3 per cent thanks to higher output in South Africa and elsewhere in Asia.
The maker of the Corolla and Prius hybrid recorded a 9.4 per cent fall in exports and a 35 percent slide in domestic sales, which tumbled industrywide because of the expiration of government subsidies for eco-car purchases.
Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co produced 317,473 vehicles globally in November, up 5.4 percent from a year earlier and the 12th straight month of growth.
Production in China and Asia hit a record high for the company, Honda said. In China alone, it made 61,955 vehicles, up 2.7 per cent from the previous year. Honda's exports rose 71 per cent, while sales in Japan plunged 37 per cent.
Nissan Motor Co, based in Yokohama, Japan, made 372,106 vehicles during the month, up 19 percent and a record high for November, the company said. Robust demand for the new March compact car and the NV200 van drove China production up 19 per cent on year to 91,633.
