March 2004 results
Global production in March totaled 147,438 units, a decrease of 7.1 percent compared to March last year.

Output in Japan increased 4.5 percent to 78,655 units on the back of added production of minicars such as the Minicab van and truck.

Offshore production slipped 17.6 percent to 68,783 units. Production in Asia declined 11.8 percent to 46,895 units, North American output decreased 41.3 percent to 10,831 units, and European production was off 9.7 percent at 5,786 units.

March sales in Japan decreased 3.5 percent on year to 59,779 units. Of this, registrations, which exclude 660cc minicars, declined 17.8 percent to 21,243 while minicars grew 6.7 percent to 38,536 units. MMCs share of the domestic market in March was 7.2 percent, down from 7.5 percent in March last year.

Exports from Japan declined 12.7 percent on year to 34,175 units. By region, exports to Asia jumped 51 percent to 6,122 units, exports to North America decreased 66.6 percent to 5,183 and European-bound shipments increased 13.3 percent to 11,167 units.

Fiscal 2003 results
Total worldwide production in fiscal 2003 declined 9.4 percent on year to 1,537,469 units.

Japanese output inched down 1.9 percent to 751,843 units. Of this, passenger car production dropped 6 percent to 638,919 units while commercial car output increased 30.1 percent to 112,924 units.

Offshore production for the year came to 785,626 units, a 15.5 percent decline compared to fiscal 2002. Production in Asia declined 11.5 percent to 501,337 units, North American output decreased 25.4 percent to 156,859 units, and European production was off 14.3 percent at 75,276 units.

Domestic sales returned to growth for the first time in eight years in fiscal 2003. MMC saw sales in Japan rise 1.1 percent on year to 358,253 units. Registrations gained 1.5 percent to 127,334 units while minicars edged up 0.9 percent to 230,919 units. MMCs share of the overall domestic market, which includes trucks and buses, was 6.1 percent, up from 6 percent in fiscal 2002. For the passenger car only market, MMCs share rose from 6.6 percent to 6.8 percent despite a 2 percent drop in overall demand.

The company also saw sales return to growth in Europe after four years of continuous decline, selling 213,700 units across Europe for a 7 percent gain on year. Sales in Asia increased to 680,200 units for the year, representing a new record high in this important growth region. In particular, sales in China surged 65.8 percent to 151,000 units.

Exports from Japan declined 12 percent to 376,103 units. As a result of the spin-off of MMCs truck and bus operations in January 2003, regional year-on-year comparisons are not available for the fiscal 2003 period due to a change in the system used by the company to tally exports.

			March 2004		Fiscal Year 2003 ('03/4-'04/3)		Calendar Year 2004 ('04/1-'04/3)
			Volume	YoY Chg. (%)	Volume	YoY Chg. (%)	Volume	YoY Chg. (%)
Domestic Production	Passenger Cars		62,334	95.7	638,919	94.0	170,883	96.3
	Commercial Vehicles		16,321	161.5	112,924	130.1	34,937	135.1
	Total		78,655	104.5	751,843	98.1	205,820	101.2
Domestic Sales *	Passenger Cars	Registrations	17,195	75.9	104,530	102.5	30,116	70.0
		Minicars	27,187	104.0	154,824	97.2	50,645	103.6
		Total	44,382	91.0	259,354	99.3	80,761	87.9
	Commercial Vehicles	Registrations	4,048	126.7	22,804	97.1	7,752	118.8
		Minicars	11,349	113.7	76,095	109.5	21,379	105.6
		Total	15,397	116.9	98,899	106.4	29,131	108.8
	Registrations Total		21,243	82.2	127,334	101.5	37,868	76.4
	Minicars Total		38,536	106.7	230,919	100.9	72,024	104.2
	Grand Total		59,779	96.5	358,253	101.1	109,892	92.6
Exports	Passenger Cars		32,085	85.3	360,447	87.6	85,805	85.5
	Commercial Vehicles		2,090	135.2	15,656	97.9	4,682	119.5
	Total		34,175	87.3	376,103	88.0	90,487	86.7
	Domestic Production		78,655	104.5	751,843	98.1	205,820	101.2
	Overseas Production		68,783	82.4	785,626	84.5	182,676	80.2
Total Production			147,438	92.9	1,537,469	90.6	388,496	90.1