Earthquake Aftershocks – Honda Global Production Down 32%

Honda Motor Company in Japan today announced that production for the first half of the Japanese fiscal year ending 31 March 2012 declined 32.

Output of Honda vehicles in Japan showed a year-on-year decrease for the first time in two years – since the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. Production in regions outside of Japan also experienced a year-on-year decrease for the first time in two years. As a result total worldwide production decreased as well for the same period.

Honda production in Japan for the month of September 2011 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the tenth consecutive month since December 2010, due to the ailing Japanese economy.

However, production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in the seven months since February 2011 – the month before the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Honda set an all-time record for the month of September. This includes record production in Asia and China for the month of September.

Nevertheless, worldwide production experienced a year-on-year decrease for the eighth consecutive month.

Honda Worldwide Production

Half FY Fiscal Year ending 31 March  2012 September 2011
Units vs.FY11 Units vs.’10
Japan 294,234 -39.5% 74,866 -21.2%
Outside Japan 936,938 -29.1% 243,489 +4.3%
Worldwide Total 1,231,172 -31.9% 318,355 -3.1%

 

Honda Exports from Japan

Half FY ends March 31, 2012 September 2011
Units vs.FY11 Units vs.’10
North America 58,589 -47.1% 13,036 -23.5%
(USA) 56,388 -46.4% 12,432 -25.2%
Europe 16,195 -30.3% 5,907 +50.2%
Asia 5,306 -24.1% 1,592 +53.5%
Others 9,732 -59.9% 1,976 -68.6%
Total 89,822 -45.6% 22,511 -20.4%

 

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
This entry was posted in auto news, manufacturing, news analysis and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *