TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp’s global production fell for the ninth straight month in October, dragged down by large production declines in the United States and China, but the decline was slight compared to previous months.
The world’s largest automaker also recorded its first rise in five months in global sales, which grew by 1.4% to 903,103 vehicles, a record for the month of October.
Toyota said on Thursday that it produced 893,164 cars globally, a decrease of 0.8 percent. This compares to an 8% decline in September.
Production in the United States decreased by 13%, affected by the four-month halt of production of the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX SUV models due to an airbag problem. Production of the models resumed on October 21, and production at the automaker’s Indiana plant is expected to return to normal in January.
In China, where competition against local brands remains intense, production fell by 9%. Toyota also produced 13% fewer cars in Thailand amid weak demand.
In Japan, which accounts for about a third of Toyota’s worldwide output, production rose 8%, rebounding from weak numbers a year ago when an accident at a supplier’s facility led to a partial halt in production at multiple plants.
In Canada and Mexico, the automaker’s production rose 2% for both countries.
Production and sales figures include cars from Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, but do not include the group’s companies, Hino and Daihatsu.
(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)