The vehicle production of the 8 automotive manufacturers for the fiscal year 2017 was disclosed on April 26 with the report of 28,688,347 vehicles which increased from 2016 by 2.5% and had risen for 9 consecutive years. The report indicated that Japan showed stable vehicle sales volume due to significant supports from China. However, the production volumes of Toyota and Subaru showed a decrease.   

According to the sales volume in China, Honda’s “Accord” and “Civic” productions in China closed at 1,468,617 vehicles, increased from the previous year by 15.6%. On the other hand, top selling vehicles of Nissan, “Kicks” and “X-Trail”, had a total completed production at 1,536,615, increased by 12.9%. While Toyota, whose oversea production had decreased for 2 consecutive years, reported an increase of production volume in China by 3.5% in this year with a completion of 1,142,000 vehicles. The total numbers of vehicle productions were the highest volume in China of the 3 manufacturers.  

As for the sales volume of sedan in the US, it was a disappointment which led to the decrease of Toyota’s production volume in the US to 1,249,000 vehicles, decreased by 8.8% from the previous year, and had declined for 7 consecutive years. Nissan’s was at 899,483 vehicles, decreased by 9.2% and had already declined for 2 consecutive years.  

The total vehicle production volume in Japan was at 9,190,739 vehicles, had increased for 2 consecutive years. However, it was the first time in 2 years that the vehicle production volume of Nissan was less than 1 million vehicles due to the problem of the quality control. Subaru also experienced a decrease of vehicle production volume in Japan which was caused by the shift of its Impreza production base to the US since November 2016. 

The 8 automobile manufacturers’s worldwide production volume in March showed a decrease of 1.6% or accounting for 2,664,316 vehicles which was a 2-month consecutive decline. However, the vehicle production volume in March in Japan increased by 1.4% which was equivalent to 895,236 vehicles, a 16-month consecutive increase. There were 2 automobile manufacturers which had an extraordinary production volume, namely, Honda’s “Vezel” and Mitsubishi’s “Eclipse Cross”.