TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor’s global output fell for a ninth straight month in October, dragged down by big drops in output in the United States and China, but the decline was slight compared with previous months.
The world’s largest automaker also posted its first increase in five months in global sales, which rose 1.4% to 903,103 vehicles, a record for the month of October.
Toyota said Thursday it produced 893,164 vehicles worldwide, down 0.8%. That compares with an 8% drop in September.
Production in the United States fell 13%, affected by a four-month production stoppage 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 9%. Toyota also produced 13% fewer cars in Thailand amid weak demand.
In Japan, which accounts for about a third of Toyota’s global output, production rose 8%, recovering from weak numbers a year ago, when an accident at a supplier facility caused a partial halt to production in several plants.
In Canada and Mexico, the automaker’s production increased 2% for both countries.
Production and sales figures include vehicles from Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand, but exclude group companies Hino and Daihatsu.
(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)