TOKYO (MNI) – Motor vehicle output in June fell at a slower pace
than in the previous month, as leading automakers continued to repair
earthquake-ravaged production facilities and supply chains, data from
the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed on Friday.

New vehicle production fell 13.9% year-on-year to 742,431 units in
June following a 30.9% drop in May. The June fall was the ninth straight
y/y drop.

New car output plunged a whopping 60.1% to 292,001 units in April.
The percentage decline was the largest since the industry group began
compiling the data in January 1966, while the April output level was the
smallest since January 1968.

In June, passenger car output tumbled 16.2% to 620,717 vehicles,
the ninth consecutive month of decline, while truck output rose 0.1% to
111,229 vehicles, the first rise in seven months.

Bus production rose 5.5% to 10,485 units last month, the first rise
in four months.

Domestic vehicle shipments dropped 21.6% to 351,828 units in June
following a fall of 33.4% in May, while vehicle exports fell 10.0% to
402,042 units, a fourth straight y/y fall, after a 40.5% drop in May.

tokyo@marketnews.com
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