Japan's auto production plunges 60.1% in April

Japanese automobile production plummeted a record 60.1 percent from a year earlier in April, due to the shortage of parts and damage to facilities following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) said in a report on Tuesday.


Production of vehicles dropped to 292,001 in the recording period, from 731,829 units produced in the same month a year earlier, the association said.


Due to the production slump, exports of automobiles fell 67.8 percent in April from the same time a year earlier to 126,061 units, with the value of vehicles shipped falling an annual 48.3 percent in April, JAMA said.


Domestic sales also took a hit due to the March twin disasters standing at 185,673 units, down 47.3 percent from a year earlier.
(Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com)