Toyota Logs Record Global Sales for April-Sept.

Tokyo, Oct. 27 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. posted record global sales for April-September, while six other Japanese automakers suffered declines, data from the companies showed Monday. Toyota’s sales rose 4.7 pct from a year earlier to 5,267,216 units, thanks to brisk sales of hybrid vehicles in the North American market. The effects of a slight price increase in July are believed to have been limited. Meanwhile, combined global sales of eight major Japanese automakers remained almost unchanged at 11.99 million units, with the six companies, including Honda Motor Co., posting lower sales, mainly reflecting sluggish performance in China and other Asian markets. Daihatsu Motor Co.’s sales recovered from a vehicle testing scandal. Honda and Subaru Corp. posted drops of 6.1 pct and 4.5 pct, respectively, due to intensifying competition in the Chinese market and delays in developing electric vehicles. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. saw its sales shrink by 5.9 pct due to weaker demand in its mainstay Southeast Asian market. Nissan Motor Co., which is facing management difficulties, posted a 3.1 pct decrease. Its overseas sales fell only 0.9 pct, thanks to strong sales of the new N7 model EV in the Chinese market, while its domestic sales plunged 16.5 pct. In September alone, the eight automakers’ combined global sales fell 1.6 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]