Toyota, Honda Lead Increase in Japan's Auto Production as Demand Recovers

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest carmaker, led a seventh straight monthly increase in vehicle production in Japan as a global recovery spurred exports, Bloomberg reported.

Output at the country’s 12 vehicle makers in May rose 31 percent from a year earlier to 708,453 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a statement today. Exports surged 47 percent to 340,721.

Japanese carmakers scaled back output a year ago, temporarily halting production lines to reduce inventory amid a recession. The companies are boosting production this year as demand recovers in the U.S. and Japan and continues rising in China, the world’s largest auto market.

Toyota’s domestic production in May rose 22 percent from a year earlier to 235,412 vehicles as sales jumped 39 percent and exports increased 15 percent, the company said last week. Honda Motor Co., the nation’s second-largest carmaker, said domestic output surged 42 percent to 74,588 as sales gained 18 percent and exports rose 29 percent.

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third-biggest carmaker, raised domestic output 24 percent to 79,430 vehicles as exports grew 95 percent.