The Japanese auto industry slowly but surely is clawing back from the abyss created by one of the worst disasters that were visited upon the island nation. Following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the industry had crashed. Three months later and earlier than thought, the industry is at near pre-disaster levels. Data released by the Japan Auto Manufacturers Association shows  the June production at 742,431 units, only 13.9 percent below June 2010.

Japanese Production 2011 By Automaker

Once the remaining effects of the disaster have been overcome, we can expect year-on-year growth in the last quarter of 2011 and especially in the first quarter of 2012. But the damage is done.

So far, output in Japan alone is 3,429,934 units for the first six months, down 29.2 percent from the 4,843,770 units total recorded in the first half of 2010. That’s 1,413,836 units swept away, in Japan alone.

Automobile exports for the first half of the year were 1,840,164 units, 20.8 percent below the 2,324,098 units exported in the first six months of 2010.

What you see here are just the effects in and on Japan.  A picture of the global effects on Japan’s Top Six can be seen here.