The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association announced this morning in Tokyo that domestic production of automobiles totaled 489,723 units in May 2011, compared with the 709,113 units total for May 2010, a decrease of 219,390 units or 31%. This marked a production decrease on the same month of the previous year for eight consecutive months, a trend that started well before the Japan earthquake in March when government incentives to purchase new vehicles expired last year.
Automobile exports in May 2011 were 202,833 units. Compared with the 340,721 units for the same month of the previous year, this is a decrease of 137,888 units or 41%. This represents the an export decrease on the same month of the previous year for three consecutive months, consistent with the production disruptions that resulted in March of this year.
The total value of automobiles exported for May 2011 was $6.76 billion, including $4.49 billion for vehicles and $2.27 billion for parts. This is a decrease of $2.89 billion or -30% compared with $9.65 billion for the same month of the previous year.
Domestic auto sales in May 2011 stood at 237,364 vehicles, down 33.4% as compared with the same month of the previous year.
| Japanese Automobile Production |
| Automobile |
May 2011 |
| Units |
May 2010 (%) |
| Toyota |
107,437 |
45.6 |
| Nissan |
80,036 |
100.8 |
| Mitsubishi |
47,013 |
107.7 |
| Mitsubishi Fuso |
3,995 |
90.5 |
| Mazda |
62,208 |
88.2 |
| Isuzu |
16,029 |
95.6 |
| Honda |
34,746 |
46.6 |
| Hino |
7,049 |
93.1 |
| Suzuki |
64,848 |
73.9 |
| Daihatsu |
41,893 |
85.2 |
| Subaru |
22,438 |
60.6 |
| UD Trucks |
1,898 |
70.6 |
| Others |
133 |
133.0 |
| Total |
489,723 |
69.1 |
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.
