Total global production for August came in at 62,924 units, a decline of 32.1 percent over August 2008 and the eighteenth consecutive monthly decrease since March 2008. Production volume in Japan was down 42.9 percent at 32,824 units as a 15.9 percent increase in commercial vehicle output (6,276 units) failed to counter a 49.0 percent decrease in passenger car output (26,548 units) over the same month last year to see year-on-year output fall for the tenth consecutive month.

Vehicle sales in Japan in August totaled 12,082 units to record a 15.0 percent year-on-year rise and the first increase in 24 months since September 2007. Sales of passenger cars were 18.2 percent up at 9,291 units while sales of commercial vehicles were 5.6 percent up at 2,791 units. Registered vehicle sales volume, at 4,519 units, was 22.8 percent up on the same month last year, driven by a 77.0 percent, 48.4 percent, 17.9 percent and 36.8 percent increases respectively in year-on-year sales of the Colt, Colt Plus, Outlander and Pajero models. Minicar sales volume showed a 10.8 percent increase at 7,563 units, with a 20.0 percent, 22.6 percent and 20.0 percent increases respectively in sales of the Pajero Mini, Minicab Truck and Minicab Van models.

Overseas production volume totaled 30,100 units, 14.5 percent down over August last year and the eighteenth consecutive monthly decline. By region, output in North America was 54.3 percent down at 2,447 units with production returning to a 4-day week basis. In Europe, output was 14.7 percent up at 2,308 units helped by firm sales of the Colt in Germany. In Asia, output was 7.7 percent down at 22,226 units as a 169.3 percent increase at China Motor Corp in Taiwan and a 229.2 percent increase at South East (Fujian) Motor in China failed to offset continuing low levels of production in Indonesia and Thailand.

Exports from Japan totaled 16,720 units, 66.8 percent down in August 2008, marking the tenth consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Exports to Asia, at 2,733 units, were just 4.9 percent down on the back of firm shipments to China. Exports to Europe were 83.0 percent down at 4,143 units due mainly to slow sales in Russia. Export shipments to North America, at 3,138 units, fell by 32.5 percent over the same month last year.

			August 2009		Fiscal Year 2009 ('09/04-'09/8)		Calendar Year 2009 ('09/01-'09/8)
			Volume	YoY(%)	Volume	YoY(%)	Volume	YoY(%)
Domestic Production	Passenger Cars		26,548	51.0	118,282	39.2	184,275	34.8
	Commercial Vehicles		6,276	115.9	30,869	96.5	45,710	79.6
	Total		32,824	57.1	149,151	44.7	229,985	39.2
Domestic Sales *	Passenger Cars	Registrations	4,320	127.2	19,625	94.8	33,298	73.2
		Minicars	4,971	111.3	21,873	82.2	43,776	79.5
		Total	9,291	118.2	41,498	87.8	77,074	76.7
	Commercial Vehicles	Registrations	199	70.6	1,249	62.9	2,036	57.8
		Minicars	2,592	109.7	14,887	94.0	24,736	85.1
		Total	2,791	105.6	16,136	90.6	26,772	82.2
	Registrations Total		4,519	122.8	20,874	92.0	35,334	72.1
	Minicars Total		7,563	110.8	36,760	86.6	68,512	81.5
	Grand Total		12,082	115.0	57,634	88.5	103,846	78.0
Exports	Passenger Cars		16,328	33.1	67,733	28.0	110,320	26.1
	Commercial Vehicles		392	40.2	1,963	34.1	2,789	28.7
	Total		16,720	33.2	69,696	28.2	113,109	26.2
Production	Domestic Production		32,824	57.1	149,151	44.7	229,985	39.2
	Overseas Production		30,100	85.5	126,295	67.6	202,743	64.1
	Total		62,924	67.9	275,446	52.9	432,728	47.9

*	Includes imports to Japan