Automotive

Japan - Automakers report output and export plunges in July 2009

Source: Kyodo News, 28 August 2009

The top five automakers in Japan reported heavy plunges in their global production and exports in July 2009, but three of them revealed small declines in domestic sales than in June 2009.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. reported the steepest global production drop to 63,540 units, down 45.6%. Honda posted a global output plunge to 258,972 units, down 24.3%. Toyota Motor Corp. Group, including Hino Motors Ltd. and Daihatsu Motor Co., saw output decrease to 645,405 units, down 20.7%. Mazda Motor Corp. dropped 16.4% to 105,434 units, while Nissan Motor Co.

China - Car sales up 82% in August 2009, year-on-year

Source: Reuters News, 07 September 2009

The Development Research Centre, a think-tank under China’s cabinet, disclosed the findings of a restricted survey on major cars that Chinese car sales increased 81.7% in August 2009, year on year, due to rising consumer confidence and government’s boosting demand policies. The overall vehicle sales exceeded 1 million units in August 2009.

A spokeswoman from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said that vehicle sales in China could easily exceed 10 million units in 2009, as the accumulated sales have reached 7.18 million units in the first seven months. Meanwhile, the automakers are urged to stay calm on expansion to prevent overcapacity. It is foreseen that the country's auto capacity utilization rate will be lower than 70% of planned total vehicle capacity in the coming years.

Indonesia - Vehicle sales drop 20% in August, while tyre exports hit by Turkey tariffs

Source: Just-Auto, 07 September 2009

The Indonesian vehicle market is estimated to have declined by 20% to 46,000 units in August 2009. The market is showing an improving trend with sales up 5.6% when compared with July’s 43,548 units, and up more than 30% on the monthly average of 35,455 units in the first half of 2009.

The Indonesian tyre industry will miss out on an export target of US$40 million of bicycle and motorcycle tyres to Turkey in 2009, after the Turkish government imposed extra punitive tariffs of 5-10% on bicycle tyres and 20-32% on motorcycle tyres imported from Indonesia since 1 August 2009, alleging dumping practices by Indonesian exporters. In 2008, Indonesia's bicycle and motorcycle tyre export sales were about 370,000 units per year, while domestic sales were 23m units annually.

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