Japan's Automakers Continue Rebound, Toyota Unstoppable
Japan’s automakers released global production and sales data for July today. It is an ancient Japanese tradition, which is also shared by large European carmakers, but shunned by most American globals. GM for instance reports only quarterly on a global basis, and keeps observers guessing in between. July data released by Japanese large automakers shows a strong rebound after last year’s multiple disasters. Honda looks especially strong, while Toyota’s march towards regaining the title “World’s largest automaker 2012” appears unstoppable.
Japan’s Top Three continue their strong recovery after last year’s tsunami. Hardest hit Honda is back very strong and is in shouting distance of Nissan. What makes Honda’s numbers especially impressive is the fact that its Thai hub was submerged by floods and closed until March of this year. Nissan’s numbers look weak because Nissan was least affected by the tsunami.
Top 3 World, July Production and Full Year Forecast7M ’127M ’11YoYProj ’12Toyota6,126,1014,054,60851.1%10,502,000GM5,619,0005,515,0001.9%9,633,000Volkswagen5,190,0004,750,0009.3%8,897,000Black: Company data. Blue: Projection, based on last availableToyota, GM: Production. VW: Deliveries. Forecast by TTACTracking the race for world’s largest automaker, there is little change from last month. January through July, Toyota is half a million units ahead of number two which is some 400,000 units ahead of Volkswagen. This trend has been unchanged throughout the year . It most likely won’t change by year’s end – unless something drastic happens. Due to the non-publishing of GM numbers, they had to be projected for July.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
More by Bertel Schmitt
Comments
Join the conversation
And to those saying 'Honda has lost its way', well they are crying...all the way to the banks! "Waaah, they killed the S2000!" Well, did you actaully ever buy one, new? They aren't in entertainment biz, to make cars to sit in showroom for fan-kids to drool over. Want to see more new 'sporty cars'? Go out and put $$$ where mouth is, and more will be built/sold.
If you really value reliability above all else - one of those outdated non direct injected 4 speed cars like a Corolla or RAV4 will be to your liking. But its not proof that for EVERYONE a car is an just an appliance. Much like a Fridge or a PC might have some differenting characterstics - so can autos. Almost everyone can feel that a BMW drives much better then a Camry. Just because not everyone buys based on that is not a sign that the cars are only appliances. Actually how a car look, feels and drives is more important then ever because even 'unreliable' makes like VW can hold up for 100k miles.