Japan Auto Output Drops 10.9% in August; Domestic Sales Down 10.7%
30 September 2008
Japan automobile production in August 2008 dropped 10.9% to 769,829 from 864,283 units in the same month last year, according to data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. This marks the first year-on-year decline in production in thirteen months.
Production of all passenger cars dropped 10.7% to 653,485 units. Standard cars with engines of larger than 2.0-liter displacement dropped 10.1% to 393,080 units; small cars dropped 12.2% to 172,334 units; and mini cars with engines of less than 0.6-liter displacement dropped 10.5% to 88,071 units.
Production of trucks dropped 14.1%. Standard trucks were down 5.4% to 54,822 units, while production of small trucks dropped 18.2% to 23,694 units. Mini trucks (engines of less that 0.66-liter displacement) were down 24.5% to 28,395 units.
Exports dropped 2.2% in August to 496,735 vehicles—the first year-on-year drop in exports in 37 months—on a decline in passenger car exports.
Passenger car exports were down 4.0% to 430,691 units; truck exports rose 6.7% to 54,363 units, and bus exports rose 39.3% to 11,681 units.
Japan domestic sales in August 2008 posted 310,091 vehicles, down 10.7% compared with August 2007. Passenger car sales dropped 8.0% to 255,295 units; trucks were down 21.4% to 53,730 units; and buses were down 23.9% to 1,066 units.
Crash and panic everywhere! Apocalypse now.
Posted by: | 30 September 2008 at 11:19 AM
This is not a recession in Japan, it is people noticing that the BEV is going to show up next year, so 10% of the potential buyers are holding onto the old guzzler till the new fuel efficient BEV is marketed.
All available BEV's are already sold this year.
Posted by: John Taylor | 30 September 2008 at 12:45 PM
The Japanese economy is actually performinbetter than it has for most of the last decade, able to take advantage of the global ecoomic situation and buy a major American bank.
just maybe the consumers are limiting their purchases now into the not so vitally neccessary motor car.
When fuel prices and emission concerns take a higer priority. The pubic transport system is in a better condition than some.
Posted by: arnold | 01 October 2008 at 10:37 PM