April Japanese Automaking Surges with $13 Billion in Exports

Japanese automaking completed its recovery from the natural disasters of last year that interrupted production by building almost 800,000 vehicles in April 2012, many of them for export. This compares to 292,044 units for April of 2011 – one month after the tragic March earthquake and Tsunami – for an increase of 507,430 units or 173.8%. April also marked the seventh consecutive monthly production increase year-over-year. Leading the way was Toyota, which boosted output more than five times at 276,000 vehicles.

The strong recovery is bad news for the Detroit Three since many of the vehicles will be shipped to North America, by far the largest export market for Japanese automakers. More than 157,000 vehicles were shipped to North America, with 140,000 of those sent the United States, where the new vehicle market is slowly growing once again.

Total exports from Japan in April were 402,389 units, compared with 126,061 for the same month of the previous year or an increase of 276,328 units or 219.2%. This meant that exports have now increased y-o-y for four consecutive months.

The recovery is good news for shareholders of Japanese auto companies, which continue to struggle with a strong Yen thereby hurting margins. Increased volumes, along with intense cost cutting efforts are improving profits. The total value of automobiles exported for April 2012 was $13.6 billion including $9.8 billion for vehicles and $3.8 billion for parts. This is an increase of $7.7 billion or 130% as compared with $5.9 billion recorded for the same month of the previous year.

Japanese Automobile Production

Automobile

April 2012

Units

 (%)

Toyota

275,761

512.3

Nissan

85,734

194.0

Mitsubishi

39,056

142.1

Mitsubishi Fuso

7,733

481.5

Mazda

65,484

185.4

Isuzu

19,513

407.0

Honda

87,049

614.4

Hino

12,373

250.5

Suzuki

93,668

160.4

Daihatsu

64,839

315.1

Subaru

46,003

181.2

UD Trucks

2,053

167.5

Others

208

156.4

Total

799,474

273.8

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. 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 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.
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