JAMA: February Output Up 0.6%

TOKYO, March 27, 2003; Reuters reported that Japan's domestic automobile production rose 0.6 percent in February from a year earlier to 902,261 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) said on Thursday. The rise was the eighth consecutive year-on-year gain and follows a 9.1 percent increase in January. Exports rose an estimated five percent. The following is a breakdown of domestic production figures for February, with percentage changes from a year earlier: FEBRUARY TOTAL 902,261 (+0.6) Cars 755,105 (0.0) Minis* 111,712 (-13.8) Trucks 141,187 (+3.7) Minis* 46,401 (-3.3) Toyota Motor 300,395 (-1.6) Nissan Motor 138,751 (+21.5) Honda Motor 103,209 (-13.0) **M'bishi Motors 74,629 (-6.3) Mazda Motor 68,760 (+5.4) Suzuki Motor 88,218 (+4.1) Daihatsu Motor 58,532 (-5.6) Fuji Heavy 39,635 (+2.6) Isuzu Motors 20,530 (-3.0) Hino Motors 6,634 (+34.3) Nissan Diesel 2,837 (+20.2) *Minivehicles have maximum engine displacement of 660cc and receive preferential tax treatment. Suzuki, Daihatsu, Honda, Fuji Heavy and Mitsubishi produce 660cc mini vehicles. Mazda and Nissan sell Suzuki-made minicars for sale under their own nameplate. **Figure includes output of trucks and buses at Mitsubishi Motors' Fuso unit, which was spun off in early January.