TOKYO (MNI) – Motor vehicle output in May fell at a slower pace
than in the previous month, as leading automakers are rushing to fix
quake-ravaged production facilities and supply chains, data from the
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed on Thursday.

New vehicle production fell 30.9% to 489,723 units in May following
a whopping 60.1% fall to 292,001 in April.

The drop in April 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.

The May fall was the eighth straight y/y drop.

In May, passenger car output tumbled 32.5% to 410,971 vehicles,
the eight consecutive month of declines, while truck output dropped
18.7% to 74,804 vehicles, a sixth straight y/y fall.

Bus production fell 52.3% to 3,948 units last month, a third
straight y/y fall.

Domestic vehicle shipments dropped 33.4% to 237,364 units in May
following a fall of 47.3% in April, while exports fell 40.5% to 202,833
units, a third straight y/y fall, after a 67.8% drop in April.

tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **

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