Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for March 2009 and for the 2008 fiscal year.
March 2009
Production: total and in Japan
Total global production came in at 58,895 units, a decline of 57.3 percent over March 2008 and the thirteenth consecutive monthly decrease since March 2008. Production volume in Japan at 35,304 units was down 62.3 percent as a 65.3 percent decrease in passenger car (29,212 units) and a 35.3 percent decline in commercial vehicle (6,092 units) output saw year-on-year output fall for the fifth consecutive month. The fall in production volume in Japan was, as in the previous four months, due mainly to the impact of the global financial crisis on sales volume in the company’s world markets.
Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in March totaled 22,926 units, a 29.1 percent decrease year-on-year and the 19th consecutive monthly decline since September 2007. Registered vehicle sales volume at 7,592 units was 36.8 percent down on the same month last year. Minicar sales volume at 15,334 units was 24.5 percent down.
Production overseas
Overseas production volume totaled 23,591 units, 46.8 percent down over March last year and the thirteenth consecutive monthly decline. By region, output in North America was 100 percent down as all production has been halted due to very slow sales in the United States. In Europe, output was 39.3 percent down as production at NedCar was tailored to sluggish sales in the region.
Export shipments from Japan
Total exports from Japan of 17,227 units were 77.0 percent down on March 2008, marking the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Exports to Asia at 2,074 units were 57.3 percent down on March 2008 due mainly to a slump in demand in the region overall and despite minor increases in shipments to China and Malaysia. Exports to Europe at 6,784 units were 81.9 percent down due mainly to a slump in demand in the region overall and despite a slight increase in shipments to Russia. Exports to North America at 992 units were 86.7 percent down.
2008 fiscal year (April ‘08 - March ‘09)
Production: total and in Japan
Total global production in fiscal 2008 came in at 1,076,334 units, down 24.8 percent over fiscal 2007 and the first decrease in volume in two years. Production volume in Japan at 669,694 units was down 23.5 percent, the first time in four years that output failed to grow over the previous fiscal year. While output in Japan was up year-on-year in the first few months of fiscal 2008, the impact of the global financial crisis on the world economy forced production levels down as sales volume in the company’s markets started to drop in the autumn. As a result output for the full fiscal year dropped below that of the previous year.
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