Four Japanese carmakers post two-digit YoY drop in Sept. China sales amid chip crunch

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co.,Ltd., Nissan Motor Co.,Ltd., and Mazda Motor Corporation all posted two-digit year-on-year decline in their China sales in September, mainly because the chip shortage disrupted vehicle production and delayed car delivery. 

Toyota's China sales in Sept. tumbled 35.9%, the sharpest year-on-year decline the company had faced so far this year.

Camry; photo credit: GAC Toyota

The increase in Toyota's year-to-date China sales contracted to 10.9%, 7.9 percentage points less than the growth in Jan.-Aug. volume.

Civic; photo credit: Dongfeng Honda

Honda Motor said its China deliveries in Sept. fell 28.1% over a year earlier due to the auto parts supply constraints. To be specific, GAC Honda recorded a 25% year-on-year drop with 61,287 new vehicles delivered, while Dongfeng Honda's deliveries slumped 31% to 60,161 units.

X-Trail; photo credit: Dongfeng Nissan

Nissan's China sales in Sept. totaled 104,443 units, sliding 26.2% year on year. The automaker attributed the decline to external headwind including the coronavirus pandemic, cross-shortage of raw materials, economic slowdown, and increased competition in light-duty commercial vehicle industry.

The Dongfeng Nissan, the passenger vehicle business unit of the joint venture Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), saw its Sept. deliveries dwindled 28.9% to 84,754 units, 80,022 units and 4,732 units of which were under Nissan and Venucia brands respectively.

Mazda3 Axela; photo credit: Changan Mazda

Mazda said its China deliveries reached 16,428 units in September, representing a 21.5% year-on-year drop and showing downward movement for six consecutive months.

Among the four Japanese automakers, Mazda was the only one that logged decrease in terms of Jan.-Sept. sales.

Last month, Mazda for the first time didn't give the sales volume of joint ventures as FAW-Mazda's business has been merged into Changan Mazda. As part of solutions to the business combination, Changan Mazda introduced FAW Group as a new investor that holds 5% stake.