Japan auto majors' domestic production plunges in March

Toyota said production in Japan plunged 62.7 per cent year on year in March. Domestic output slumped to 129,491 vehicles while worldwide production fell 29.9 per cent to 542,465 vehicles. Production at Toyota’s Daihatsu and Hino subsidiaries was also sharply lower.

Nissan said production at home fell 52.4 per cent year on year in March. Domestic production fell to 47,590 units, in contrast to its global output which in March increased 9.0 per cent year on year to 382,704 units.

Honda Motor reported its output plunged 62.9 per cent year on year in March while worldwide total production was down 19.2 per cent at 282,254 units. For fiscal year ending March 2011, worldwide production was up 8.2 per cent at 3,575,362 units compared with the previous year, Honda said.

Mazda announced 53.6 per cent drop in domestic production year on year in March, with global production down 33.8 per cent. Meanwhile, with auto production stalled, demand for second-hand cars has soared in the disaster-ravaged northeast, Jiji news agency reported. Prices have surged by 100,000-150,000 yen ($1,200-$1,800) for many models, a dealer told Jiji following the weekly used-car auction in the town of Murata.